Faculty shortage haunts Bihar law college

At least 10 of the 14 sanctioned posts of full-time faculty members and seven of the 10 part-time teachers’ position are vacant at TNB Law College, Bhagalpur.

A four-member team of the Bar Council of India (BCI) team has taken note of severe faculty shortage at the TNB Law College, a constituent unit of the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University.

TNB Law College, Bhagalpur, is functioning on provisional affiliation after the BCI withdrew its regular affiliation.(File photo)

The BCI team was here on Saturday to inspect the college for grant of regular affiliation.

At least 10 of the 14 sanctioned posts of full-time faculty members and seven of the 10 part-time teachers’ position are vacant at the college. The BCI condonable limit on faculty deficiency was not immediately known.

The college is functioning on provisional affiliation after the BCI withdrew its regular affiliation, effective 2011-12.

College authorities reportedly told the BCI inspectors that the Bihar government had been apprised about the faculty vacancies and the ball was now in the government court.

The affiliation issue has led to uncertainty among the 700-odd students enrolled here. A student delegation met the BCI inspectors to air their concern.

However, TNB Law College principal Sudhanshu Pandey said there was no reason for the students to worry.

Expressing confidence of getting affiliation after Saturday’s inspection, Pandey said though the BCI had withdrawn regular affiliation, it granted provisional affiliation to the institution in 2016 with retrospective effect. The provisional affiliation would continue till this year, he added.

Sourabh Jha, a second semester college student, said the students would be relieved only after the BCI granted the college regular affiliation and put it up on its website.

The BCI team comprised BN Pandey, dean school of law and justice, Adamas University, Kolkata, Kameshwar Pandey, vice-president of the state bar council, besides Rajeev Saran and PN Ojha, both members of the state bar council.