Maintain decorum: Guv to education dept officials

PATNA: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Tuesday expressed his displeasure over the "undermining" of his autonomy as the chancellor of universities by the education department's undue meddling in the affairs of the universities.

Addressing a Teachers' Day function on Patna University (PU) campus, Arlekar, however, said there was no strain between the chief minister and him.

"Both of us can sit and talk, and find solution to all the problems, but officials should learn to maintain decorum," he said with chief minister Nitish Kumar on the dais.

Explaining the cause of the tussle between the education department and Raj Bhavan, the governor said, "Only a little while ago, the chief minister requested me to consider giving extension to a vice-chancellor (VC).

Even I think he deserves the extension. But the education department should shed its confrontational stance and opt for better coordination (with the chancellor’s office),” he said, slamming the government for holding back the salary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University VC.

Last month, the education department stopped the salary of the VC and Pro-VC of BRABU, Muzaffarpur, and froze their bank accounts for not attending a review meeting by additional chief secretary K K Pathak, during his inspection. “A secretary of the department writes to us and challenges our position. I wondered at his audacity,” Arlekar said, adding the teachers should be put on the highest pedestal.

“From primary school teachers to VCs, we should put them on a higher pedestal than others,” he said. “The problems being faced by the teachers should be solved and they should be treated respectfully,” the governor further said, adding the strength of the teachers should be in proportion to that of students.

Incidentally, at a separate official function at S K Memorial Hall here, education minister Chandrashekhar also asked his department not to take hasty decisions. “No decision should be taken in haste, because they cause embarrassment to the government,” he said in an obvious reference to Pathak whose ‘disciplinary’ actions have irked the teachers community.

“Any action should be taken with reformatory approach and not as a punitive measure,” the minister said and added: “Inspection should be conducted to improve things.”