Patliputra University has appointed principals to ten of its colleges using a lottery system. This move away from conventional merit-based selections is intended to combat corruption and favoritism, but has also sparked considerable debate. The new method prioritizes random chance in an effort to bring transparency to a process previously clouded by allegations of bias.
A random draw for leadership
Thirteen state universities across Bihar have now adopted this lottery-based approach for appointing principals. At Patliputra University (PPU), this method filled 10 of the 19 vacant principal positions in colleges across the Patna and Nalanda districts. These appointments mark the end of a long delay in filling these permanent roles.
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The newly appointed principals will serve a five-year term and are expected to assume their roles within three months. The appointees include:
- Ratna Amrit at BD College, Patna
- Sunita Roy at MM College, Bikram
- Sunita Sinha at Nalanda College
- Rekha Rani at A N College
- Vijay Laxmi at Ganga Devi Mahila Mahavidyalaya
- Diwakar Prasad at R K D College
- Akhilesh Kumar at M D College, Naubatpur
- Shyamdeo Paswan at BS College, Danapur
- Dibhanshu Kumar at Kisan College, Sohsarai
- Anand Prakash Gupta at Government Degree College, Rajgir
Debating the merits of chance
Bihar’s Governor and university chancellor, Arif Mohammed Khan, has publicly supported the lottery system as a transparent and unbiased solution for administrative postings. He compared the role of a principal to that of a civil servant, where such random assignments are more common. The practice was first introduced at five Patna University colleges before being expanded to PPU and other institutions.
To ensure fairness, all candidates in the lottery had already met the necessary academic and interview requirements set by the Bihar State University Service Commission. The entire selection process was video-recorded and overseen by university officials and representatives from the chancellor’s office.
Despite these measures, the new system has faced criticism from the academic community. A primary concern is the potential mismatch between a principal’s academic background and the specialized focus of the college they are assigned to lead.
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For instance, critics worry about a home science professor being appointed to head a commerce or science institution. Supporters, however, argue that this system effectively addresses long-standing problems of nepotism, political influence, and lobbying that have historically plagued academic appointments.
