PATNA, June 18 -- The chancellor's secretariat got prepared a draft statute for engagement of fixed-term faculty in six subjects in the 211 proposed degree colleges in uncovered blocks under the state universities concerned and circulated it for opinion on Wednesday. The move has been necessitated due to shortage of time before the start of the new academic session from July, huge shortage of hands, and excruciating delay and unending controversies over the ongoing recruitment of assistant professors by the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC), which caused big embarrassment to the government and led to a large number of court cases. Dipak Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary to the governor said the objective of the draft statute was to provide a transparent, merit-based and time-bound mechanism in mission mode for engagement of qualified faculty members on a fixed-term basis in the shortest possible time against sanctioned vacancies in the universities and colleges until such vacancies were filled through regular appointments in six subjects (Hindi, English, Economics, History, Political Science and Sociology) to be taught in the 211 proposed degree colleges. Apart from the general academic qualifications, the statute has made it mandatory that a candidate must be qualified for National Eligibility Test (NET) for assistant professors conducted by the UGC/CSIR twice a year or equivalent examination conducted by the UGC in the subject concerned or done PhD in accordance with the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations. The eligibility age is 23-40 years with relaxation for reserved categories. The arbitrary marking on PhD has been done away with. NET qualified for assistant professor and PhD as per 2009 UGC regulations will get equal 10 marks each, while MPhil with NET will fetch 15 marks, PhD with NET (asst prof) 20 marks, MPhil with JRF 13 marks and PhD with JRF 28 marks. Marks obtained at the graduation and post-graduation level have also been categorised on the basis of percentage. "Those who have done PhD as per UGC 2009 regulations or before have to submit five-point certificate to that effect," says the statute, stating clearly that while academics would fetch 88 marks, interview would be of 12 marks only and comprise class demonstration as well as personal interaction. There is, however, no word on remuneration, which shall be fixed by the higher education department and which would determine how many highly qualified candidates get drawn to temporary engagement. The new colleges will also run from makeshift arrangement, as it had happened in 2014 when higher secondary schools were opened in all panchayats. The fixed-time faculty will be entitled to 12 days casual leave and eight days medical leave. The term will be initially for just six months and later renewed after 11 months based on performance. Initially, they will be given provisional joining in view of shortage of time for verification of documents. The selection committee for engagement of fixed-term faculty members shall be constituted by a steering committee to be formed by the higher education department in consultation with the chancellor's secretariat. For each vacancy, three candidates shall be shortlisted, based on marks obtained during screening. Prepared by a three-member committee of vice-chancellors comprising Jai Prakash University V-C PK Bajpai, BRA Bihar University V-C DC Rai and Purnea University V-C Vivekanand Singh, with detailed guidelines, the opinion on the draft statute has been sought within 10 days. A senior academician, who did not want to be quoted, said time would tell how far this 'Agniveer' concept would go in higher education, as drawing competent hands with best qualification on ad-hoc basis would not be easy. "But it is a good initiative in terms of clarity and transparency, considering the huge controversies and lack of accountability in recruitment done by the commission," he added....