Despite protests, outgoing Bihar Guv appoints VC, pro-VCs

Patna: Outgoing Bihar Governor Devanand Konwar appointed one more VC and two pro-VCs, even as the demand for probe into the allegation that he took money for appointment of VC and pro-VCs in universities intensified. According to a notification issued late Thursday evening, Anjani Kumar Sinha was appointed VC of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur university, Raja Ram was made pro-VC of Patna University and Padmasha Jha was chosen for the same post in Bihar University, Muzaffarpur. Konwar, facing protests from the ruling NDA over appointment of eight VCs and two pro-VCs, including that of Patna university Shambhunath Singh recently without consultation with the state government, has been transfered to Tripura by President Pranab Mukherjee on 9 March.[caption id=“attachment_663168” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Bihar Governor Devanand Konwar. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] According to the notification Konwar would swap posts with DY Patil. The Patna High Court had earlier quashed appointment of six of the eight VCs by the governor on the ground that the state government was not consulted. But the same persons were later re-appointed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed displeasure over the unilateral appointments by the Chancellor. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi demanded that the Centre probe the appointments made by Konwar following allegation by Congress MLC Jyoti that Rs 3 crore has been charged for appointment of a VC and Rs 1 crore for pro-VC. Jyoti had made the allegation while the Governor was addressing the joint session of Bihar legislature at the start of the budget session on 18 February. Two senior ministers, Narendra Singh and Giriraj Singh, also sought an inquiry against the Governor. Education Minister PK Shahi expressed anger over the issue in the Assembly. PTI