The appointment process of new Vice Chancellors (VCs) in the four State universities — Sido Kanhu Murmu University Dumka (SKMU) Vinoba Bhave University Hazaribagh (VBU), Nilamber Pitamber University Palamau (NPU) and Kolhan University Chaibasa (KU) — is speeding up with the last date of receipt of application for two university is ending on December 5 .
KU and NPU VCs Dr Salil Kumar Roy and Dr Firoz Ahmad completed their three years tenure on November 15.
Meanwhile, SKMU and VBU VCs Dr Basheer Ahmad and Dr Ravindranath Bhagat had finished their tenure in July and August this year. Except for SKMU, the other three are being headed by commissioners of the regions, who according to scholars may not fit in as academic administrators.
A Search Committee formed by Governor cum Chancellor of universities Dr Syed Ahmed, Headed by Jharkhand High Court Justice DN Patel with its members including Chief Secretary RS Sharma, Former Ranchi University VC Dr AA Khan and Principal Secretary to Governor RS Poddar looking are holding regular meetings to fasten the process of appoinments.
The last application submission date for VC positions at KU and NPU is December 5 and the names for SKMU and VBU VCs has been decided but not finalised, said reliable sources.
“Dr Basheer Ahmad Khan, a resident of Pondicherry who served SKMU as the last VC is being preferred by Chief Minister Hemant Soren for reappointment since he is known to have developed SKMU’s overall performance following University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines during his tenure which had remained in pause since its establishment in 1992,” said an official of SKMU.
He also informed that it was because of Khan that university could acquire a plot of 109 acres in Dighi village for its permanent campus, three kilometers away from university’s four room temporary headquarter at Dumka.
Refusing to comment over this decision or VC appointment in other universities, RS Poddar and Dr AA Khan said, “This is a highly confidential matter. As members, we cannot say anything.”
Other sources in touch with Governor House said that the names of four VCs will be notified together after December 5.