Latest news with #JagneshwarDandapat
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Prof Jagneshwar Dandapat reappointed interim VC of Utkal University under amended Ordinance
BHUBANESWAR: Prof Jagneshwar Dandapat has been reappointed as the in-charge vice-chancellor (VC) of Utkal University. The Chancellor's office on Friday issued a notification in this regard. He will continue till joining of the new vice-chancellor or until further orders. Dandapat was appointed as the in-charge V-C on May 27 this year after Sabita Acharya's extended tenure ended on May 23. However, this was challenged by a lawyer Prabir Kumar Das who filed a PIL in Orissa High Court, alleging that the appointment violated Section 6 (10) of the Odisha Universities Amendment Act, 2024. The Orissa High Court on Wednesday disposed of the PIL following the state government's decision to cancel the appointment. The re-appointment is according to the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. Section 6 (10) of the Ordinance has been amended to empower the Chancellor to appoint any person as V-C for the time being until a regular appointment is made. This also empowers the Chancellor to fix the tenure of the V-C.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Faculty member reappointed in-charge VC of Utkal
Bhubaneswar: State govt on Friday reappointed Jagneshwar Dandapat as in-charge vice-chancellor of Utkal University, three days after removing him from the post. The office of the chancellor issued a notification regarding his appointment on Friday. Govt sources said Dandapat was removed to comply with the provisions of the Odisha Universities Amendment Act 2024, under which only the VC of a nearby university can be in-charge of a state university in case of a vacancy. The reappointment was done using provisions of a recent ordinance promulgated on July 16, which empowers the governor to appoint anyone as in-charge VC pending regular selection. Dandapat, a senior faculty member of the university's biotechnology department, took charge as in-charge VC on Friday evening immediately after receiving the order. Before the cancellation of his appointment on July 22, he was appointed in-charge VC on May 27 after Sabita Acharya's extended tenure ended on May 23. However, on June 3, high court lawyer and university alumnus Prabir Kumar Das filed a PIL alleging that the appointment violated Section 6(10) of the Act. Later, the state govt informed the court that the appointment was cancelled. The court disposed of the case.
New Indian Express
24-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Orissa HC disposes of PIL after govt cancels appointment of Utkal's in-charge V-C
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of Prof Jagneshwar Dandapat as the in-charge vice-chancellor (V-C) of Utkal University, following the state government's decision to cancel the appointment. Filed by high court lawyer and alumnus of Utkal University Prabir Kumar Das, the PIL had questioned the legality of the May 27 appointment, citing non-compliance with Section 6(10) of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989. Das contended that the procedure for appointing an acting V-C had not been followed. When the matter was taken up by the division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MR Pathak, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya informed the court that the Chancellor of the university - the Governor of Odisha - had on July 22 issued an order cancelling the appointment of Prof Dandapat, a senior professor from the Biotechnology department. Acharya submitted that the cancellation was in line with the law and further stated that the state cabinet had cleared a proposal to amend the relevant provisions of the Odisha Universities Act through an ordinance. The proposed amendment, aimed at ensuring smoother university administration, would allow for the appointment of any qualified individual - not just sitting V-Cs - to the position of acting V-C, addressing the challenges of one person managing two universities simultaneously.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt cancels Utkal University in-charge VC's appointment
1 2 Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: The state govt has cancelled appointment of Jagneshwar Dandapat as in-charge vice-chancellor of Utkal University, the govt informed the Orissa high court on Wednesday. The appointment was challenged citing violation of Odisha Universities Amendment Act, 2024. The office of the chancellor of state public universities has also issued a notification regarding the cancellation of Dandapat's appointment, a senior faculty member from the university's biotechnology department. He was appointed in-charge VC on May 27 this year after Sabita Acharya's extended tenure as VC ended on May 23. However, on June 3, high court lawyer and university alumnus Prabir Kumar Das filed a public interest litigation (PIL), alleging that the appointment violated Section 6(10) of the Act. The section lays down the procedure for appointing an acting VC. A recent amendment to the Act, notified on April 17, 2025, permits the chancellor (Governor of Odisha), in consultation with the state govt, to appoint a sitting VC of any public university in the state for a maximum period of one year as an interim arrangement. The Orissa high court on Wednesday disposed of the PIL challenging the appointment of Dandapat as in-charge VC of Utkal University after the state govt informed that the appointment was cancelled. The division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M R Pathak closed the matter after advocate general Pitambar Acharya produced a copy of the chancellor's order issued on July 22 cancelling Dandapat's appointment. Acharya told the court that it was not administratively feasible for one person to function as VC for two universities. To address this issue, he said, the state cabinet approved an ordinance to further amend the Act to allow the appointment of any qualified person — not necessarily a sitting VC — as interim head. Taking note of the submission, the bench observed that since the appointment in question was already been cancelled, there was no need for further adjudication. However, it emphasised that all future appointments must strictly adhere to legal provisions. On the proposed ordinance, the court said the matter fell within the legislative domain of the state govt. With the cancellation of Dandapat's appointment, Utkal University, Odisha's premier and oldest university, continues to await a new VC. Meanwhile, the govt has started the VC recruitment process for 13 state public universities. "Without VC, a university cannot function smoothly. For every decision, we need to consult the VC and take his/her approval for the university and constituent college's works. We do not know how to manage the works until a VC is appointed," said a professor of the university.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha High Court tells state govt to speed up regular V-C appointment in public universities
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday scheduled July 23 for further hearing on the PIL alleging violation of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989, in appointing a university faculty member as acting vice-chancellor of Utkal University. High Court lawyer and Utkal University alumnus Prabir Kumar Das filed the PIL which specifically challenged the Chancellor's notification dated May 27, 2025, designating Professor Jagneshwar Dandapat, as in-charge V-C until a regular appointment is made. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MS Raman focused on Section 6(10) of the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024 - notified on April 17, 2025 - which now permits the Chancellor, in consultation with the state government, to appoint any vice-chancellor of a public university in the state as acting V-C, instead of restricting the choice to V-Cs from neighbouring universities. The bench noted that the recent amendment sets a maximum period of one year (including extensions) for such interim arrangements. It also took note of a recent Supreme Court directive to expedite permanent V-C appointments, with the state already initiating the process. Appreciating the state's intent to rectify the issue, the court underscored the need to strictly adhere to the statutory provisions. Advocate general Pitambar Acharya assured the bench that he would personally review the matter to ensure compliance with the law. The court has directed the state to take appropriate corrective steps before then. On June 24, the court had observed that Section 6(8) of the Act allows the Chancellor to extend the outgoing V-C's term for up to six months, but the current notification failed to meet this criterion. 'Prime facie, the issue raised needs to be determined finally, as this may become a recurring feature in other universities as well,' the bench remarked. Utkal University has been operating without a regular vice-chancellor since November 24, 2024, following the expiry of the previous incumbent's term.
