Leader of Opposition (LoP) and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury has raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process at Maharaja Bir Bikram University (MBBU).

Chaudhury in a letter addressed to the Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, accused the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Satyadeo Poddar, of violating recruitment norms established by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

MBBU, a state public university established in 2015 with the aim of promoting educational excellence, advertised 14 teaching positions for Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors across various departments on February 8, 2024.

However, the recruitment process has now come under scrutiny as Vice-Chancellor Prof. Poddar, whose term ends in December 2024, is reportedly attempting to expedite the hiring process unlawfully.

Chaudhury alleged a 2020 regulation from the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which clearly prohibits Vice-Chancellors, including those serving in an in-charge capacity, from conducting any recruitment within two months of their term's conclusion. He claims that Prof. Poddar is disregarding these regulations in a bid to finalize the recruitment process before his tenure ends.

The opposition leader also raised concerns about the screening process, accusing the Vice-Chancellor of manipulating the selection to favour certain candidates. He pointed out that in the case of Dr. Pankaj Chakraborty, an applicant for the position of Associate Professor in Political Science. Initial screening committee reportedly rejected Dr. Chakraborty’s application as he failed to meet the UGC's minimum requirement of eight years of regular teaching and research experience; he had only two years of such experience.

However, Chaudhury alleged that despite the screening committee's decision, the university issued a notification on August 31, 2024, listing Dr. Chakraborty as eligible for the post, without officially overturning the committee's earlier decision.

Jitendra Chaudhury has urged the Governor to intervene to ensure transparency and adherence to the UGC regulations. The controversy has sparked widespread concern over the fairness and integrity of the recruitment process in higher education institutions in the state.