Patna: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also the chancellor of universities in Bihar, on Wednesday gave his assent to the draft statutes for appointment of associate professors and professors in the colleges and universities of Bihar governed by the Patna University Act, 1976 and Bihar State Universities Act, 1976 (as amended up to date).

Earlier, the draft statute was prepared by a committee consisting of the vice-chancellors of three universities and subsequently approved by the state education department.

As per provisions of the Acts, the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC) is empowered to appointment associate professors and professors against vacant posts in different universities of the state.

The new statue for appointment of teachers on the superior posts of associate professors and professors provides for advertisement of vacant posts on all India basis by the BSUSC on the recommendation of the state education department. The qualifications and other eligibility conditions for the appointment of associate professors and professors are almost the same as have been provided under UGC regulations, 2018 and implemented by the state govt in 2023.

Reacting on the new statute, the working president of Federation of University Teachers Associations of Bihar, K B Sinha, pointed out that it does not speak anything about promotion under career advancement scheme (CAS) statutes of associate professor and professor.

Currently, except Patna University, no other university in the state has any sanctioned post of associate professors and professors. The government must clarify whether promotion under CAS statutes shall continue as before or not, he added.