File FIR against Vice Chancellor Chaturvedi, Registrar Ranvijay Kumar, and CoE Anwar Imam, DEO applies to Nawada Police Station. After FIRs have already been registered against top officials of at least five universities of Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Education Department K.K. Pathak is violating his jurisdiction.
Officials caught in supremacy war?
Because of the academic session being behind education department on 28th February called a meeting to find out a solution to this critical issue but many Vice Chancellors, Registrars, and Controller of Exams failed to attend this meeting. Officials say that ‘Instructions from the Governor’s office’ stopped them from attending this meeting. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is the constitutional head and the Chancellor of all universities of the state of Bihar.
Explanation for failing to attend the meeting was sought from the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Controller of Examinations. An order was issued to stop the salary of the top officials as well as to block university accounts. Such an unprecedented tough stand of the education department was seen nationwide as a severe blow to the top bosses of universities in Bihar.
Blocked bank accounts impacted pensioners and development activities
It is reported that the education department blocked the bank accounts of all universities. This move halted the developmental and routine activities of the universities, and it also severely affected pensioners. Taking cognizance of the situation the Governor wrote to banks to unblock all accounts. Amid a tussle between the state education department and the ‘Raj Bhavan’ banks are caught in a crossfire between K.K. Pathak, Additional Chief Secretary of the State Education Department, and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Education Department orders to file FIRs
During the review, examination sessions were found to be irregular. A gazette notification was made regarding which examination is to be taken and when it is to be conducted during the academic session. Under Section 30 of the University Act, a formal notification was also issued for the conduct of examinations. The department considered this to be a violation of Section 9 of the Bihar Conduct of Examination Act 1981 and has asked to take action under Section 11. The letter also alleges obstruction in the work of departmental public servants. It has also been said in the application that in the meeting on 28th February, especially the report regarding the pending examinations was not given, and necessary information related to the pending examinations was not provided.
Local authorities of the education department file complaints
Order from the superiors forced the local authorities of the education department to file a complaint with the Nawada Police Station alleging that the work of departmental public servants was obstructed deliberately by avoiding and refusing to give information related to pending examinations. A letter filed with the police also states that university authorities were asked to submit clarification regarding the timely conduct of the examination. The clarification was to be replied to within two days but no satisfactory reply was received. In such a situation, it was believed that the concerned officials of the university had nothing to say in this regard.
Nawada police station awaits expert opinion from senior officials
Nawada police station chief said that an application for FIR has come from the education department. The opinion of senior officials has been sought before registering the FIR. At present, no FIR has been registered at the police station.
Power play – who’s at the receiving end?
One of the top officials told the ‘NewsWavePost’ that, “we are caught between two authorities who have different approaches to solve the same problem. We cannot defy the Governor’s orders who is very supportive. If the state education department is sincerely concerned about the lagging examination sessions then they should also fairly evaluate the available infrastructure and the manpower to carry out this herculean task.” He further added, “education department frequently occupies buildings to conduct matriculation and inter exams from February onwards making it highly difficult for the university administration to adjust its sessions.” Finally, the whole ruckus is supposedly meant for the student community which, still looks to be neglected and Vice-Chancellor Shailendra Chaturvedi, Registrar Ranvijay Kumar, Pro V.C. & CoE Anwar Imam are left at the mercy of the home ministry.