In a clear violation of established regulations, universities in Bihar are applying arbitrary rules for confirming the services of newly appointed assistant professors, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and unfairness in the state's higher education sector.
UGC and State Mandates Clearly Ignored
The University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations of 2010 and 2018 are unequivocal. They state that confirmation of service for teachers appointed by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) or Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC) should occur after a probation period of one year. This probation can only be extended by a maximum of one additional year if an assistant professor's performance is found unsatisfactory.
Reinforcing this mandate, the Bihar state government issued a notification on February 5, 2025, directing that assistant professors appointed by the commission be confirmed after completing one year of probation. Despite these clear directives from both the national regulatory body and the state government, a patchwork of inconsistent practices prevails across Bihar's universities.
A Tale of Two Systems: One Year vs. Two Years
An investigation reveals a stark lack of uniformity. A handful of universities adhere to the mandated one-year probation period before confirmation. These include:
- Veer Kunwar Singh University
- Magadh University
- B R A Bihar University
However, a significant number of other institutions enforce a two-year probation period, directly contravening the rules. The universities following this arbitrary two-year rule are:
- Patna University
- Patliputra University
- Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University
- Purnia University
- Munger University
- L N Mithila University
- KSD Sanskrit University
- B N Mandal University
- Jaya Prakash University
This dual system creates an unjust environment where the career security of young academics depends solely on which university employs them, not on their performance or the law.
Teachers' Body Appeals for Chancellor's Intervention
Expressing deep concern over this discriminatory practice, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations of Bihar (FUTAB) has stepped in. The association has formally sought the intervention of the Chancellor of Bihar Universities to end this inconsistency.
Kanhaiya Bahadur Sinha, working president of FUTAB, and Sanjay Kumar Singh, its general secretary, have jointly appealed to the chancellor. They have urged him to direct all universities to comply with the UGC regulations and the state government notification. Their demand is straightforward: confirm the service of newly appointed assistant professors after one year of probation, provided their performance during that period is satisfactory.
This prolonged uncertainty affects the morale and career progression of hundreds of assistant professors across the state. The delay in confirmation can impact their benefits, promotions, and overall job security, putting them at a professional disadvantage compared to their peers in compliant institutions.
The ball is now in the court of the chancellor's office. A directive ensuring uniform application of the one-year probation rule would not only uphold the authority of UGC and state government mandates but also restore fairness and stability to the academic careers of Bihar's university teachers.
