After the gap of nearly 15 years, the Ranchi University (RU) syndicate elections were held today . A total of nine candidates were in fray for three syndicate posts. For non-teaching single post, Phoolchand Tirkey was declared winner. He defeated Ramchandra Nayak with the margin of 23 votes. For assistant principal’s single post, Vinayak Lal was declared winner, while for category principal/assistant principal category post, Jyoti Kumar was declared winner.
The election was for eight syndicate posts, but five candidates were elected unopposed. With Ranchi University getting eight new syndicate members, the number of syndicate members at State’s oldest university has gone up to 25.
In university’s parlance, the role of syndicate members is similar to those of council of ministers in a government, while senate function is similar to Legislative Assembly or Parliament.
The Ranchi University senate meeting started today at 11 am amid chaotic scenes, protests with senate members raising promotion, regular and contractual appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff, and land issues of univerrsity.
The senate meeting was chaired by Ranchi University VC Ramesh Kumar Pandey, Pro VC Kamini Kumar, senior university officials among others.
The senate meeting was also attended by Hatia MLA Navin Jaiswal, Mandar MLA Gangotri Kujur and Khijri MLA Ram Kumar Pahan. Two former VCs, K.K Nag and L.N Bhagat, who are ex-officio members of senate, also attended the meeting.
Raising the teachers’ appointment issue, K.K Nag said, “The Jharkhand Public Service Commission has failed to discharge its duties on appointment of teachers at university. Instead of JPSC, the university should constitute University Service Commission or separate selection committee for appointment of teachers and promotion of teachers in the university.”
Senate member and teacher from Sanjay Gandhi Memorial College, Pumpa Sen Biswas too raised the issue of appointment of teachers at varsity.
The last teachers’ appointment at Ranchi University was done in 2008, when around 700 teachers across the State were appointed. The Ranchi University-State biggest university received 332 teachers through the appointment process. However, the varsity still suffers from teachers’ shortage. The varsity has sent the proposal for appointment of 269 teachers to State Government.
The senate members also raised the issue of promotion of teachers and non-teaching staff pending for years.
The Ranchi University is State’s biggest university in terms of students’ strength and area with its jurisdiction spread to Gumla, Lohardaga, Khunti and entire Ranchi district. The varsity has 14 constituent colleges and more than 50 affiliated colleges under its banner.
The senate members also raised the issue of legal tangles in acquiring land at SS Memorial College and Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College. The senate members urged the varsity administration to approach district administration for making encroachment free these educational institutions.
At today’s senate meeting 78 senate members attended the meet. The senate meeting which started at 11 am continued till 7pm.