The Patna High Court of Bihar directed the state’s Education Department to refrain from taking coercive action against state universities and their officials until further notice. This decision comes amidst ongoing disputes, with the court emphasizing the importance of maintaining academic stability and resolving issues through amicable means.
Bihar: On 3rd May: The Patna High Court issued a directive to the Bihar education department, ordering them to refrain from taking any coercive action against state universities and their officials until further notice. The court also ruled that the department’s instructions to withhold the salaries of vice chancellors (VCs) and freeze the institutions’ accounts should be put on hold.
The matter followed after a series of petitions filed by several state-run universities challenging the government’s order to freeze their bank accounts and withhold VCs’ salaries due to their non-attendance at an education department meeting.
Justice Anjani Kumar Sharan, presiding over the bench, stated that all the orders related to the freezing of salaries and accounts were to be kept in abeyance until further notice. Additionally, the court emphasized that no coercive action should be taken against the universities during this period.
The court urged the universities to fulfill their obligations, including making timely payments of retirement benefits, releasing salaries of employees, and maintaining the examination schedule to ensure the smooth functioning of academic sessions and safeguard the interests of students.
“The court has ordered the suspension of all orders withholding university officials’ salaries and freezing university accounts until further notice,” the court announced. “Furthermore, no coercive measures are to be taken during this period. Universities are expected to promptly settle all pending dues, release salaries, and adhere to examination schedules to ensure minimal disruption to academic sessions and students’ interests,” the court emphasized.
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“In the interest of resolving disputes amicably, it was suggested during the proceedings to convene a meeting of all vice chancellors and education department officials on May 6 at a neutral venue, the Maurya Hotel, Patna, with the state government covering the expenses,” the court mentioned.
“All Vice-Chancellors, along with registrars, controllers of examination, financial advisors, and education department officials, including the additional chief secretary, are directed to attend the meeting on May 6 at 11 am at the Maurya Hotel, Patna,” the court directed.
“If the chief secretary of Bihar is available, he may preside over the meeting; otherwise, the meeting will proceed as scheduled, and all issues will be addressed systematically. The entire meeting will be recorded,” the bench clarified.
The court scheduled the next hearing for May 17. During the proceedings, it was proposed that a meeting be held on May 6 at a neutral venue, the Maurya Hotel in Patna, where all VCs, officials from the education department, and other university personnel would come together to discuss and resolve the disputes.
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The court suggested that the state government bear the expenses of the meeting as a goodwill gesture. It further specified that if the chief secretary of Bihar is available, he should preside over the meeting. In case of his unavailability, the meeting would proceed under alternate arrangements, with all issues being addressed in a proper manner. The court also mandated that the entire meeting be recorded on video.
Background:
In March, the Bihar government issued an order to freeze the bank accounts of all state-run universities, except Darbhanga Sanskrit University, and withheld the salaries of VCs for their absence from a review meeting called by the Education Department in February. The VCs were asked to provide an explanation for their non-attendance, primarily regarding the status of pending examinations and other related matters.
