Admission scam rocks Patna University

In a major development, Patna University suspended former Coordinator of the Department of BBA PC Verma and replaced prof-in-charge of Patna College Ran Bijay Kumar for serious lapses in the admission process.

In a major development, Patna University on Friday suspended former Coordinator of the Department of Business Administration (BBA) PC Verma and replaced prof-in-charge of Patna College Ran Bijay Kumar for serious lapses in the admission process. It also decided to refer the admission process for vigilance probe.

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Prof RB P Singh, proctor, has been given the charge of Prof-in-charge after Prof Kumudini Sinha of the Department of Economics expressed her inability to shoulder the responsibility. Interestingly, Singh was also a member of the committee that investigated the BBA lapses.

The university also cancelled the admission of nearly 150 students, who had submitted their fee following increase in the number of seats without university's approval. They would be refunded the amount deposited as fee. However, in the entire episode, the students would suffer for no fault of theirs.

Earlier, Verma had been removed from the post of coordinator of Department of BBA after being found prima facie responsible for the BBA imbroglio. Jayanti Sarkar was given the charge of the department.

"The admissions were carried out keeping the university in dark. The university had no communication in this regard. By the time the letter of the minister reached me, the process had been initiated. There is a system in place for everything and nobody can avoid them. What is more, the department approached the minister directly and took suo motu action," said the VC.

The problem started after the Department of BBA increased the number of seats from 60 to over 200 on the basis of a letter from HRD Minister Hari Narain Singh, addressed to the Vice Chancellor. Singh suggested that in view of demand, the seats should be increased. On that basis, seats were increased without following the laid down procedures of the university.