Principals of five colleges under Patna university picked by drawing lots | India News
PATNA: Five colleges of Patna University (PU) on Wednesday got new principals, not on their merit or suitability but through a lucky draw.Nagendra Prasad Verma, a history teacher at Chapra’s Jai Prakash University, was selected as principal of Magadh Mahila College in Patna through a lottery. The draw of lots extended to Patna College and Patna Science College, two of Bihar’s oldest and most prestigious institutes, which will be now headed, respectively, by Anil Kumar, a chemistry teacher from a UP college, and Alaka Yadav of Hajipur’s Mahila College.Suheli Mehta, a home science teacher at Magadh Mahila College, was ‘picked’ to head Vanijya Mahavidyalay while Yogendra Kr Varma of Patna Law College became the institution’s principal. All the five incumbents were earlier selected as principals on the recommendations of Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC), based on their interviews and academic qualifications. It’s after a gap of 15 years that the PU colleges will get principals recommended by the university service commission.Sr academics raise questions on appointments through lottery Usually, the appointment of a college principal is done by vice-chancellor of the university concerned. However, following allegations of foul play in appointment of principals in some universities, governor-cum-chancellor Arif Mohammed Khan ordered that the posting of BSUSC-recommended candidates would be done through a lottery system under the supervision of a three-member committee, headed by the VC of the university concerned.In the case of five PU colleges, the names were picked through a draw supervised by a committee consisting of VC Ajay Kumar Singh, registrar Shalini and the chancellor’s representative, Rahmat Jahan. Some senior academics, however, raised questions over the appointments through lottery. How could a home science teacher manage an institution of commerce, or a chemistry teacher administer an institution specialising in humanities & social sciences, they asked.
