Patna: The Governor-cum-Chancellor’s Secretariat has imposed immediate restrictions on the policy-making and financial powers of the Vice-Chancellor of Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU), while also requiring him to obtain prior permission before leaving the university headquarters.
The directives were issued in an order dated September 15, 2026, by Deepak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor. The order lays down three instructions that the Vice-Chancellor has been directed to comply with immediately and until further orders.
Prior Approval for Policy Decisions
Under the first directive, the Vice-Chancellor cannot take any policy decision without the prior approval of the Chancellor.
The order also requires the Vice-Chancellor to obtain permission from the Governor’s Secretariat before taking decisions on important administrative and policy matters concerning the university.
Financial Powers Restricted
The Vice-Chancellor’s financial powers have also been curtailed.
The order permits routine administrative expenditure but requires prior approval from the Chancellor for other financial decisions and financial sanctions. As a result, major financial decisions at AKU will require clearance from the Chancellor’s Secretariat.
Movement Restricted
The third directive bars the Vice-Chancellor from leaving the university headquarters without the Chancellor’s prior permission.
The Governor’s Secretariat has directed strict compliance with all three instructions.
Dispute Over Inquiry Committee
The restrictions come amid a growing controversy over the constitution and functioning of an inquiry committee at AKU.
The university administration recently wrote to the Governor’s Secretariat raising questions over the process through which the committee was constituted, its jurisdiction and the timeframe fixed for completing the inquiry.
The dispute has also involved allegations made by AKU Registrar Dr Niranjan Prasad Yadav against Pawan Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Higher Education Department and coordinator of the inquiry committee.
Registrar Alleges Threatening Conduct
In a letter to the authorities, Yadav accused Sinha of allegedly behaving in an undignified manner with university officials during the inquiry and using offensive and threatening language.
The Registrar’s letter alleges that he was threatened with language referring to having his “arm broken”. The university administration described the allegation as a serious matter and sought action against the concerned official in accordance with the applicable rules.
The allegations and the university’s objections form part of the ongoing dispute surrounding the inquiry committee.
