BIT Patna and Central University of Bihar have openly came out in battlefields after Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Patna Campus has sent an eviction notice to Central University of Bihar. The Central University has been functioning at the premises of BIT Patna past 2 years.The agreement between the two for space sharing has failed to be renewed. The then Vice Chancellor Emeritus, BIT-Mesra and the Vice –Chancellor, CUB had signed an agreement on June 27, 2009 for 10000 sq. feet space on rent for the University at the BIT campus for two years.
“Though no action has been taken so far but we have a sword hanging over our head. There is uncertainty among the students. We need to take it up on a priority,†Janak Pandey, Vice Chancellor
The Central University of Bihar (CUB) told.
The Registrar of the University had earlier received a eviction notice on August 18 following which Vice Chancellor of CUB Prof Pandey wrote back to the State authorities reminding them about the agreement over use of space between the two institutions for which the State had granted no objection certificates.
The State government had granted a no objection certificate to BIT to make available 10,000 square feet to CUB in July 2009 for which the University paid Rs. 62 lakh as rent in advance for two years.
In 2010, both the institutions mutually came to an understanding for academic collaboration for which additional space was given by BIT. The Birla Institute of Technology had earlier also sent three eviction letters asking the CUB Registrar to vacate two halls by April and the rest of the space by September 2011 but changed its mind subsequently and finalised the space sharing agreement.
It is being said that BIT-Patna is being “pressurized†by Nitish Kumar-led State government to make it difficult for the University to continue. While Nitish Governemnt wants the University to be setup at Motihari, the Central Government wants it to be somewhere near the state Capital. As a backup option, HRD is examining whether a part of the IIT-Patna campus could be diverted for the varsity but no concrete measures have been taken in this respect that has further deepened the sense of insecurity among the students.