Gaya: Last date for applying for the post of Magadh University (MU) vice-chancellor (VC) ended on Tuesday and according to Lok Bhavan sources, scrutiny will begin soon to shortlist the aspirants for being called for interaction with the search committee.The search committee, sources said, will for the first time have a nominee of the UGC chairman. In the past, the search-cum-selection committees did not have a representative of the UGC and one reason why the previous advertisement for the post was cancelled pertained to this anomaly.In its ruling the SC has said that it was mandatory to have the nominee of the UGC chairman on the selection-cum-search committee, else the appointment of VC will be regarded as invalid.Lok Bhavan public relations officer (PRO) D N Sudhanshu said he could not reveal any details, including the number of aspirants, as such details are confidential.The post of VC became vacant on Feb 14, 2026 as Shashi Pratap Shahi, the then VC completed his three-year tenure. The then governor-cum-chancellor Arif Mohammed Khan granted conditional extension to Shahi with the caveat that he would not be taking policy decisions during the extension period.Khan’s successor Syed Ata Hasnain removed Shahi from the post of VC and Dilip Kumar Kesari, the senior most teacher of the university was made the officiating VC till the appointment of a regular VC.In the absence of a regular VC the MU budget remains in limbo as the officiating VC, unlike a regular one can only perform routine functions like salary payment and academic monitoring.Asked about the budget status, MU registrar Binod Kumar Mangalam said permission has been sought from the chancellor for convening meetings of statutory committees.Once the Lok Bhavan granted permission, the process for the passage of the budget would be fast tracked, he added.
