Patna: The agitation by PhD holders and research scholars in Bihar has intensified amid preparations for the recruitment of assistant professors and other teaching posts, with three scholars entering the sixth day of a hunger strike in Patna.
The protest, organised under the banner of the All PhD Holders and Research Scholars Association of Bihar, began on August 4 at Gardanibagh. Kumud Patel, Abhishek Mehta and Bikku Singh Pradhan have been on continuous hunger strike, while research scholars from different parts of the state have joined the protest in support.
The protesters are seeking changes to the proposed recruitment process, arguing that candidates who have spent years pursuing research and higher education should receive adequate opportunities when vacancies are filled.
Six Demands From Research Scholars
The scholars have submitted a six-point charter of demands. Their demands include:
- implementation of provisions of the earlier UGC regulations;
- separate weightage for PhD, NET and JRF qualifications;
- raising the maximum age limit to 55 years;
- regular recruitment against vacant teaching posts across subjects;
- introduction of a domicile policy in the selection process; and
- development of undergraduate and postgraduate colleges as constituent units of universities.
The protesters’ main demand is that the provisions of the earlier UGC regulations be considered while framing the assistant professor recruitment rules.
They have proposed 5 marks for NET, 7 for JRF, 30 for PhD and 5 for MPhil, arguing that each qualification represents a distinct level of academic achievement.
Age Limit At Centre Of Dispute
The age limit has emerged as another major point of contention.
The scholars argue that delays in announcing vacancies mean many candidates complete their PhDs at an advanced age and can subsequently become ineligible for recruitment.
CPI(ML) MLA Sandeep Saurabh, who visited the protest site, backed the demand for a higher age limit and said recruitment should comply with UGC regulations.
“Candidates suffer losses due to the failure to release vacancies on time; therefore, adequate relaxation in the age limit should be granted.”
He said Bihar should consider a maximum age limit of 55 years, as demanded by the protesters.
Political Support For Protest
The agitation has received support from opposition parties.
Congress MP Pappu Yadav and Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram visited the protest site and met the research scholars. CPI(ML) MLC Shashi Yadav and MLA Sandeep Saurabh also visited the hunger strike venue on Sunday and expressed support for the demands.
Saurabh said Bihar’s research scholars should receive a fair opportunity in the proposed recruitment and called for a dialogue between the government and the protesters.
He also supported the demand for a domicile policy, arguing that if such a policy has been introduced for schoolteacher recruitment, a similar provision should be considered for higher education.
Scholars Seek Opportunity In Proposed Recruitment
Research scholar Rajnish Yadav said reports suggested that recruitment for more than 8,000 professor posts could be undertaken.
He argued that scholars who obtained their PhDs years ago and have been waiting for recruitment should not be excluded by the proposed rules.
Yadav alleged that provisions including the current age limit could leave a significant number of qualified researchers out of the recruitment process.
He also criticised the government for not initiating talks with the protesters.
According to Yadav, administrative personnel have been visiting the protest site for basic medical checks, but no government representative has held discussions with the scholars.
Hunger Strike To Continue
Kumud Patel said the hunger strike would continue until the protesters’ demands were addressed.
The scholars’ agitation has now become part of a wider debate over Bihar’s proposed higher education recruitment framework, particularly the role of PhD and NET-JRF qualifications, age limits, vacancies and domicile requirements.
The protesters are now waiting for the state government to open talks and clarify how their demands will be addressed before the proposed assistant professor recruitment process moves forward.
