13 Bihar professors suspended for 'dancing in a vulgar manner' at public event

Patna: Thirteen professors have been placed under suspension in Bihar after they were found 'dancing in a vulgar manner' at a public event organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad.

The cultural function had been organised by the Rajendra College at Chapra in Saran district in December last year to mark the birth anniversary of Prasad. Reports said while the event was coming to a close, the College principal Dr Pramendra Ranjan Singh and some professors asked that folk singer Sapna Chaudhary’s popular songs be played.

The principal and 12 college professors then jumped on to the stage and danced. A video of this dance was uploaded on social media by a member of the audience.

The Bihar Governor, who is also the Chancellor of Universities, across the state ordered an investigation into the matter. Subsequently, the vice-chancellor of Jai Prakash University, Chapra, Dr Faruque Ali, asked three officials from the university to probe the matter. The Rajendra College is affiliated to this university.

However, the Governor noticed some discrepancies in the probe report and asked the vice-chancellors of two other universities from Bihar to probe the incident. Based on probe report, the JP university administration has now suspended 16 people, including 13 professors and three university officials, Public Information Officer of the JP University, Dr Kapil Deo Singh, said over phone. All were caught dancing in a vulgar manner, Singh added.

The suspended officials have been asked to reply within 15 days as to why departmental proceedings should not be initiated against them. At the same time, the university administration has stayed their salary increment.

Officials said while the college principal has been asked to report at the varsity headquarters, the professors have been told to report at some local colleges during the period of their suspension.

The college principal has been closely associated with politics and in 2010, unsuccessfully contested the elections from Chapra assembly seat on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket. The RJD currently is not only the main Opposition party in the state but also the single largest party in Bihar House with 75 lawmakers.

The BJP, which is in power, has 74 members whereas its ally the Janata Dal United (JD-U) headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar has 43 members.