Questions over Nepal-based experience claim cast shadow on Assistant Professor appointment process at Mahatma Gandhi Central University

By Sagar Suraj

MOTIHARI: Fresh controversy has surfaced around the ongoing faculty recruitment process at Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU), with allegations relating to the authenticity of an experience certificate submitted by Dr. Sneha Chaurasia for the post of Assistant Professor drawing attention within academic circles.

Documents accessed by Border News Mirror (BNM) indicate that Dr. Chaurasia had submitted an experience certificate purportedly issued by a Nepal-based management college, claiming nearly seven years of teaching experience. 

However, an independent verification conducted by the newspaper has reportedly raised questions regarding both the duration of service and the salary details mentioned in the document.

Sources associated with the Nepal institution, requesting anonymity, claimed that Dr. Chaurasia had worked there only for around six months. They further alleged that the salary figures reflected in the certificate appeared inconsistent with the institution’s pay structure, maintaining that even senior faculty members were not paid salaries of such scale in Indian currency.

The controversy intensified after another set of employment-related documents surfaced during the investigation.

 The records allegedly show that Dr. Chaurasia was associated with a school in Motihari during the same period for which the Nepal-based experience was claimed. 

The overlapping timelines have prompted demands for an official verification of the credentials submitted in the recruitment process.

The latest allegations have also revived discussion over earlier controversies linked to Dr. Chaurasia’s tenure as Guest Faculty at MGCU. 

University sources and former students alleged that complaints regarding her classroom conduct had earlier been submitted before the administration. Audio clips purportedly related to those allegations had circulated locally at the time, though the university did not publicly disclose the outcome of any internal inquiry.

Sources familiar with the matter claimed that more than 40 students had earlier raised concerns regarding her conduct, following which her engagement as Guest Faculty was reportedly discontinued.

Neither Dr. Chaurasia nor university authorities have issued an official response to the allegations so far.
 The controversy is expected to intensify as concerns over transparency and verification in academic appointments continue to attract wider attention.

Speaking to Border News Mirror, Proctor of MGCU Prof. (Dr.) Prashun Datt stated that eligibility calculations in Bihar consider experience from the due date of promotion, not merely the date of formal approval, and confirmed that a formal reply is being prepared.

Sagar Suraj

MOTIHARI : A legal storm has engulfed Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU), Motihari, following a notice challenging the appointment of its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sanjay Shrivastva.

A serious legal challenge has emerged, bringing questions of eligibility, statutory compliance, and transparency to the forefront.

 The appointment of Prof. Sanjay Srivastava is under scrutiny following a formal legal notice alleging violation of mandatory norms prescribed under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018.

The challenge has been initiated by academician Dr. Sandeep Pahal of Meerut through Advocate Alok Anand and has been served upon the UGC and the Ministry of Education. 

At the center of the dispute is Regulation 7.3.0(i) of the UGC Regulations, 2018, which requires a Vice-Chancellor to possess a minimum of ten years’ experience as a Professor in a university, or equivalent experience in a reputed research or academic administrative organization. 

These regulations, framed under Section 26 of the UGC Act, 1956, have statutory force and are binding on all universities across India.

According to the notice, the Ministry’s advertisement dated 21 May 2022 for the MGCU Vice-Chancellor post explicitly adopted these UGC norms. 

However, information obtained under the Right to Information Act from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) indicates that Prof. Srivastava was promoted to the rank of Professor (Stage-5) only on 4 October 2012 after approval by BHU’s Executive Council. 

Based on this date, the petitioner argues that by the June 2022 cut-off, Prof. Srivastava had completed only nine years and eight months of service as a Professor, falling short of the mandatory ten-year requirement.
The notice draws strength from judicial precedents as well .

 In a 2022 ruling, the Supreme Court of India clarified that experience in non-teaching bodies cannot be equated with experience “as Professor” under UGC Regulation 7.3.0.

 Similarly, the Himachal Pradesh High Court in Dr. Dharam Pal Singh v. State of H.P. (2021), relying on Union of India v. M. Bhaskar (1996), held that notional or retrospective promotions cannot be counted for eligibility; only actual service from the date of promotion is valid.

The notice, issued under Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, alleges procedural arbitrariness in the selection process and seeks an immediate review of the appointment.

 It also flags alleged inconsistencies in Prof. Srivastava’s curriculum vitae regarding his Fulbright association with American University, Washington D.C., suggesting possible misrepresentation. He was there as visiting scholar instead of visiting professor, Pahal claimed.

Responding to the allegations, MGCU officials defended the appointment. Speaking to Border News Mirror, Prof. (Dr.) Prashun Datt stated that eligibility calculations in Bihar consider experience from the due date of promotion, not merely the date of formal approval, and confirmed that a formal reply is being prepared.

Meanwhile, sources indicate that no Bihar-specific regulation overrides UGC norms, reinforcing their statutory supremacy. 

If no action is taken within 60 days, the petitioner plans to approach the courts, potentially triggering a precedent-setting ruling on how “experience” under UGC Regulation 7.3.0(i) must be legally computed, notice reads

Previous Next

Sagar Suraj

MOTIHARI: Governor of Bihar Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar inaugurated convocation ceremony organized by Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU) on Tuesday.

After the inaugural ceremony, the second academic session was held for the newly admitted students. The second session was presided over by Vice Chancellor.

In the presidential address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Sanjay Srivastava said that the University has always endeavored to provide high quality healthy study environment to the students.  

Motivational speaker Dr. Vikrant Singh Tomar and Prof. Rajesh Kumar organized second session at NIEPA, which was addressed by prof Aarti Srivastava to a highly attended gathering of students and professors.

Dr. Vikrant Singh Tomar put things in front of the students from setting goals to identifying themselves through many examples.

Introducing the various dimensions of the New Education Policy 2020, Prof. Aarti Srivastava said that we should understand the importance of higher education.

 The student studying in higher education should understand that this is the time on which the foundation of the whole life is built. He talked about the efforts being made for the betterment of education in India while referring to the education resources of America and other developed countries.

  Chief Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prasoon Dutt Singh, discussed in detail the functioning of the Proctorial Board. He advised them to read discipline-oriented manuals prepared for students. Dean of Student Welfare (DSW) of the University Prof. Prof. Archattran Pal shared much useful information for the students. Controller of Examinations,  Prof. K.K. Upadhyay provided many important informations related to examination and admission.

Dr. Bimlesh Kumar Singh, Dr. Shyam Kumar Jha, Dr. Shatrudra Prakash, Dr. Anjani Kumar Srivastava, Dr. Rakesh Pandey, Dr. Yugal Kishore Dadhichi, Dr. Aslam Khan greeted participants and guests and moved vote of thanks.

Besides, Governor of Bihar Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar visited Charkha Park near Gandhi Smarak and after going through all things related to father of nation, he watched documentary filmed by Hritik Viraj Pandey and produced by Lav Kumar Singh .

The documentary entitled Champaran Satyagarah -1917 reminds us historic Champaran Satyagrah –the first disobedience movement launched by Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi in 1917.   

Previous Next