Muzaffarpur/Patna: Amid mounting allegations of caste-based bias in appointments, Vice-Chancellor of BRA Bihar University, Prof Dinesh Chandra Rai, held a press conference on Friday in a bid to clear the air and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to transparency, merit and institutional reform.
Speaking from the university guest house, Prof Rai dismissed the accusations as “baseless and ridiculous,” accusing detractors of launching a “calculated attempt” to derail the progress made under his tenure. He insisted that all appointments had followed due process, guided by merit and seniority—not caste.
“To reduce this discourse to caste is not only unfortunate but an attempt to malign the institution’s integrity,” said Prof Rai, while unveiling caste-wise data of officers and principals currently serving across the university. “These figures demonstrate a balanced and fair representation. We are focused on eliminating corruption and fostering a healthy academic atmosphere.”
The Vice-Chancellor also underlined the mechanisms for appointing heads of postgraduate departments, stating that these are governed strictly by seniority and rotation, without interference from the university leadership, Raj Bhavan or the government.
On the matter of college principals, Prof Rai clarified that only seven commissioned principals were currently in post, while senior faculty members were handling additional responsibilities in other colleges. “In colleges where senior faculty lacked the required 15 years of experience, temporary principals were appointed from other institutions,” he said, adding that 24 newly recruited principals would be deployed soon.
The controversy took a fresh turn when Registrar Prof Sanjay Kumar issued a “note of dissent” to the Raj Bhavan over the college affiliation process—an action Prof Rai described as “a breach of protocol” and “against university norms.” The issue is now under review, with the administration hinting at possible disciplinary steps.
Responding to criticism about committee appointments, Prof Rai defended the exclusion of commerce faculty from a key affiliation committee, explaining that the subject does not require laboratory infrastructure, which was the committee’s focus. He noted that a minimum of five years’ teaching experience was required for such committee roles.
Prof Rai reiterated that his administration had initiated a range of reforms aimed at academic revival. “For over a year, we’ve been focused on improving research output, streamlining administrative bottlenecks and setting a new benchmark for academic quality,” he said.
He concluded the press conference with a pledge to continue on this path. “Our aim is not just to respond to these baseless allegations, but to take Bihar University to new academic heights,” he said. “No amount of noise will distract us from that goal.”
