Govt not to stop grant over 'illegal' appointments of VCs

The Bihar government today termed "serious and illegal" the issue related to appointment of Vice Chancellors and pro VCs by Governor "without consulting" the state government but refused to stop grant to universities on this count.
Answering a starred question in the state Legislative Assembly of Achutanand (BJP), Education minister P K Shahi said that the appointments were "illegal" and "against order of the Patna High Court."
He informed the House that the Supreme Court while hearing the case yesterday expressed "surprise" over appointments in "hurry" and posted the matter for two weeks.
The Chancellor of Universities had in February last reappointed six VCs including that of Patna University Shambhu Nath Singh inviting strong protest from the state government.

Shahi said that the state government was providing grant of about Rs 3000 crore to universities and has no plan to stop this in public interest.
The minister, however, said the department has decided to constitute a special audit cell by this month which will start monitoring the expenditure incurred by these universities from next financial year (2013-14) starting from April this year.

Shahi said the appointments ignored doubts of the state government over their qualifications and also legal proceedings against many of them.
He alleged that among the appointees, two including Vice Chancellor of Patna University Shambhu Nath Singh were facing vigilance probe while police inquiry is going against another in a case of cheating in examination.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also recently vented anger against appointments of 8 VCs without "proper consultation with the state government."
The Patna High Court had in December last year quashed appointments of 8 VCs and 4 pro-VCs on the ground that it was done without "proper consultation" with the state government.