HRD Ministry initiates official process to appoint new BHU V-C

Amid the uproar following a molestation incident in Benaras Hindu University (BHU) and the subsequent speculations about the Vice Chancellor's resignation, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on Friday initiated the official process of appointing a new V-C.

The HRD ministry has rolled out advertisements to invite applications for the post of V-C as current V-C Girish Chandra Tripathi is due to retire in November. While there were speculations that the process has been fast-forwarded after the current situation, sources in the ministry said it is a routine process which had started in August.

"Officials in higher education department in the ministry had begun the initial process in August itself. There's no chance of appointments being linked to current controversy. This is just a coincidence," a source in the ministry said.

The source added that the ministry is in no mood to take any action in relation with the GC Tripathi as he does not hold any executive powers.

"The Vice Chancellor, being the academic as well as administrative head, is expected to be: A visionary with a proven leadership qualities, administrative capabilities as well as teaching and research credentials," the advertisement read.

"Having outstanding academic record throughout and a minimum of 10 years experience as a professor in the university system or in an equivalent position in a research/or academic or administrative organisation," the advertisement added.