In an extraordinary action, the Bihar government has directed the freezing of bank accounts for all state-run universities, except one, and has suspended the salaries of their vice-chancellors. This action was taken based on allegations of their absence from a review meeting organized by the education department two days prior.
The department has issued a letter to all Vice Chancellors, excluding those from Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, requesting clarification on their absence from a meeting discussing pending examinations and other matters.”
If satisfactory explanations are not received from the Vice Chancellors within two days, FIRs will be filed against them,” the letter, obtained by PTI, stated. “Meanwhile, salaries of Vice Chancellors have been withheld, and banks have been instructed not to conduct any transactions for the concerned universities until further notice.”
The letter, signed by Education Secretary Baidyanath Yadav, was also dispatched to examination controllers of all universities except Magadh University and Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University.
The department strongly criticized the Vice Chancellors’ absence from the meeting, which was convened to address important issues such as the backlog or delay of examinations in universities. “They have failed to fulfill their responsibilities as public servants,” stated the letter.
Despite numerous attempts, Bihar Education Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary could not be reached for comment.
Last August, the state government halted the salaries of the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University in Muzaffarpur. This action was taken due to alleged negligence in inspecting educational institutions under their jurisdiction and for failing to attend a review meeting organized by the education department.
The department had instructed the freezing of accounts belonging to these top officials and the university.
