New Delhi: The Union government on Tuesday, September 14, issued a fresh advertisement seeking applications to the post of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor, nine months after the first advertisement which was published on December 9, 2020, the Telegraph reported.
A marked difference in the new advertisement is that the maximum age stipulation for applicants has been eased to some extent, with the word “preferably” being included while mentioning the upper age limit.
While the December 9 advertisement noted that applicants were expected to be “Not more than 67 years of age as on the closing date of receipt of applications,” the new advertisement stipulates that applicants should be “preferably not more than 67 years of age as on 08.01.2021.”
January 8, 2021 is the reference date mentioned in both advertisements.
The new advertisement also mentions significantly higher remuneration for the post, a fixed amount of Rs 2,10,000 with a special allowance of Rs 11,250, up from the December, 2020 advertisement’s Rs 75,000 per month with a special allowance of Rs 5,000.
Both advertisements also mention that the appointment will be made from a panel of names which a committee formed under the Banaras Hindu University Act will recommend.
Shortlisted candidates had been invited to the campus for interviews on March 12 of this year, however, the interviews were postponed without a reason being cited. These interviews have not been rescheduled as yet.
The new advertisement adds a note saying that candidates who had applied earlier are not required to apply again although they are free to withdraw their applications. The last date for applications mentioned is September 24.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Vishwanath Pandey, a former officer on special duty at BHU said, “It seems they want to accommodate a favourable candidate through this revised advertisement.”
The tenure of the vice-chancellor, as laid down by the Act, continues until the individual reaches the age of 70, meaning that a candidate who obtains the post at the age of 67 would have a three year tenure.
BHU has been without a regular vice-chancellor since March of this year, when Rakesh Bhatnagar completed his term, Amar Ujala reported.
It joined several universities in the country which do not have regular V-Cs, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Lal Bahadur Shashtri university and several others.
The current V-C in-charge at BHU is Vijay Kumar Shukla.
Featured image: Banaras Hindu University. Photo: PTI