Current incumbent D P Chhaya informed the authorities he wanted to go in for voluntary retirement some six months ago, but Maharaja Sayaji University university advertised the post only in May. The first lot of applications that came in in response to that advertisement could not be considered seriously, according to university authorities; while one was a government servant, another was with the army, while a third was an auditor.

In view of this, the university advertised the post again around May-end, but no fresh applications have come in so far. Hence the decision to appoint an acting registrar.

While some quarters attribute the absence of applicants to the fact that the job ``does not promise much'' -- a senior professor told Express Newsline, ``There are no incentives and the registrar's pay scale is the same as a reader's'' -- a Maharaja Sayaji University Syndicate member said, ``It is ultimately the registrar who is responsible for almost everything in the university, of course with the consent of the vice-chancellor, or the pro-vice-chancellor in the Vice-Chancellor's absence.''

Though the job had no glamour aspect, it required someone of capability, he added.