In a crucial meeting held on Tuesday, Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar extended a firm assurance to a delegation of Vice-Chancellors (VCs), expressing his commitment to address any unwarranted interference by the education department into the affairs of the state’s prestigious universities. Governor Arlekar, who also holds the position of Chancellor for these universities, emphasized the significance of maintaining the dignity of the VCs while urging them to uphold a standard of conduct in line with their role as nominees of the Chancellor.
The meeting was prompted by a recent verbal altercation between Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University VC Professor Jawahar Lal and its Registrar Dr. Girijesh Nandan during a gathering called by the education department. The dispute ultimately led to the suspension of the university’s registrar by VC Jawahar Lal.
Expressing his disappointment over the incident, Governor Arlekar cautioned against impulsive decisions and stressed the importance of following due process in administrative matters. He reminded the VCs of their significant responsibility and urged them to be mindful of their actions.
The delegation seized the opportunity to bring to the Governor’s attention the alleged interference by officials from the education department. They informed him of their decision to abstain from attending meetings convened by the education department, citing concerns of humiliation.
Governor Arlekar provided the VCs with necessary guidelines during the meeting and assured them of prompt action to address their grievances. He underscored the need for the education department to respect the jurisdiction of the universities and refrain from overstepping boundaries.
This development comes after Raj Bhawan had previously communicated with the Bihar government, urging corrective measures to protect the academic environment in the state. The Governor’s intervention aims to restore harmony and ensure the smooth functioning of Bihar’s academic institutions.
