Magadh University deadlock: Governor’s intervention sought

PATNA: Magadh University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) president A K Singh Thakur on Sunday expressed concern over the ongoing strike by non-teaching employees of the university as it has paralysed the functioning of the university for more than 20 days.
“The university authorities should find out an amicable solution to end the deadlock in the larger interest of students,” he said.
In an appeal to the governor-cum-chancellor of universities Satya Pal Malik, Thakur said he must intervene in the matter. “The striking employees are not allowing entry of officials, including the vice-chancellor, to the university campus. The degree part I examinations could not be conducted due to the agitation,” he said.
Thakur urged the non-teaching employees to allow day-to-day routine work of the university in the larger interest of students. “Unless the university office functions, the VC and university officials concerned could not find a solution to problems being faced by the non-teaching employees,” he said, adding every issue could be settled through negotiations and talks in an ideal atmosphere.
According to the MUTA president, teaching and non-teaching staff of the 42 constituent colleges of the university have not got their salaries for the past four months. “The salary for the month of September 2017 was already released by the state government, but it could not be disbursed to respective colleges due to ongoing strike of the non-teaching employees,” he said.
Besides, several teachers, who are to superannuate from service, could not submit their relevant papers and documents in the university office in advance so that the university could process settlement of their retiral dues in time. “The striking employees must give a serious thought that the university is on the verge of bifurcation. Colleges of the Patna and Nalanda districts are to be carved out from the Magadh University to establish a new Patliputra University with headquarters in Patna. Thus, the continuing strike is not in the interest of the university as well,” he said.