In a rare move, Patna University appointed five principals through a lottery draw, sparking controversy over merit, subject alignment, and academic credibility.
In a surprising and contentious turn of events, Patna University (PU) has appointed five new principals to its constituent colleges—not based on merit, experience, or subject alignment, but through a random lottery draw. This move has sparked widespread debate and concern in academic circles, with many questioning whether such a method has any place in the leadership of higher education institutions.
The announcement came on Wednesday when five names were drawn to fill the long-vacant principal positions. Those selected include Nagendra Prasad Verma, a history professor from Jai Prakash University, who has been assigned to Magadh Mahila College; Anil Kumar, a chemistry professor from a college in Uttar Pradesh, who is now principal of Patna College; Alaka Yadav from Mahila College, Hajipur, who has been appointed to Patna Science College; Suheli Mehta, a home science teacher from Magadh Mahila College, placed at Vanijya Mahavidyalaya, a commerce college; and Yogendra Kumar Varma, who has been posted to Patna Law College.
All five had earlier cleared rigorous evaluation by the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC), which included scrutiny of their academic credentials and personal interviews. In usual circumstances, the final placements would have been determined by the vice-chancellor of the university. However, the rules of the game changed when Governor-cum-Chancellor Arif Mohammed Khan issued a directive that the postings be finalized through a lottery system. This unusual order was in response to mounting complaints about alleged favoritism and manipulation in the placement process across some universities in Bihar.
To ensure transparency, a three-member committee oversaw the draw. The panel included Patna University Vice-Chancellor Ajay Kumar Singh, Registrar Shalini, and the Chancellor’s representative Rahmat Jahan. While one of the selected candidates initially challenged this directive in the Patna High Court, the case was later withdrawn, clearing the path for the lottery appointments.
Despite the administration’s assurances that the process was fair and impartial, the decision has not gone down well with several senior academics and stakeholders in the education sector. Many fear that assigning college principals by lottery—regardless of their disciplinary backgrounds—could compromise the academic integrity and operational effectiveness of institutions.
“How do you expect a chemistry professor to manage a college focused on arts and humanities?” asked a veteran faculty member of Patna College, who preferred to remain unnamed. “Or a home science teacher to lead a commerce college? These are not interchangeable roles. Leadership in education isn’t a game of chance—it demands relevance, vision, and domain expertise.”
Others see the move as a setback, especially since the state had finally resumed the process of appointing principals after a 15-year gap. “We have waited so long for BSUSC to begin recommending principals again,” said a professor from Magadh Mahila College. “It’s disheartening to see those carefully evaluated recommendations being shuffled and handed out randomly.”
Critics argue that while the intention behind the lottery system—ensuring fairness and preventing bias—is understandable, the implementation lacks foresight. A more balanced approach, they suggest, would have been to match candidates with institutions aligned to their academic specializations, while maintaining transparency through oversight and documentation.
PU sources say the official letters of appointment will be released within the next couple of days, and the principals are expected to assume charge soon.
As the academic community processes this development, the controversy raises an important question: can a system designed to eliminate corruption afford to compromise on suitability and expertise? For now, what could have been a landmark moment in reviving leadership in Bihar’s higher education institutions has become a cautionary tale of well-intended reforms gone awry.
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