Latest news with #OdishaUniversity(Amendment)Act
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha government invites applications for V-C posts in 13 state universities
BHUBANESWAR: The Higher Education department on Wednesday set in motion the process to appoint vice-chancellors (V-Cs) to 13 public universities of the state. This effectively means, after a gap of three years, new vice-chancellors will be appointed to the state universities. With the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024 coming into force, the department has invited applications from eligible academicians. The appointments are being sought for the V-C posts which are either vacant and being managed by in-charge V-Cs, or those which will be vacant in the next three to four months. The institutions include Utkal University,Ravenshaw University, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo (MSCB) University, Gangadhar Meher University, Fakir Mohan University, Khallikote University, Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya, Rama Devi Women's University, Rajendra University, Dharanidhar University, Vikram Dev University, Madhusudan Law University, and Maa Manikeswari University. Appointment of V-Cs in public universities was stalled in May 2022 following a stay on the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020 by the Supreme Court since the law formulated by the previous BJD government violated the University Grants Commission's guidelines on V-C appointment. Under the previous law, V-Cs were appointed for a period of four years or till they attained the age of 70. With the legislation stayed, when V-Cs retired, the government either extended their tenure, or allowed the posts to be managed by seniormost professor of the university or V-Cs of neighbouring universities.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Supreme Court lifts stay on Odisha University Act, 2024; appointments to resume
BHUBANESWAR : The Supreme Court has lifted the interim stay imposed on Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020, which had stalled the appointment of vice-chancellors and faculty members in the state's public universities for the last five years. This was informed by Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday. With the order which was passed on Wednesday, the appointments can now be made in accordance with the new Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, the minister said. 'The order confirms that the previous government's decision to amend the Odisha University Act was flawed and violated the University Grants Commission's guidelines. With this, the appointments will resume under the framework of the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024,' he added. The minister further said that expeditious steps would be taken to fill the vacant posts of vice-chancellors and faculty members. 'Priority will now be placed on ensuring university autonomy, preserving academic culture and accelerating the recruitment process,' he added. As of now, of the 2,003 sanctioned strength of professor, associate professor and assistant professor in 17 public universities of the state, 1,307 positions are vacant. Only 696 faculty members are in position while the rest are being handled by guest faculty members. On the other hand, tenure of three vice-chancellors has been extended by another six months. The vice-chancellors are Sabita Acharya of Utkal University, Aparajita Chowdhury of Ramadevi Women's University and N Nagaraju of Gangadhar Meher University. Their tenure was due to end in the last week of November last year. In April this year, the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by the Assembly after a marathon discussion of more than 12 hours. 'The new amendment law has been framed in alignment with UGC guidelines to strengthen the higher education system in Odisha. This marks a new dawn in Odisha's higher education landscape,' the minister said.
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
VC appointments will be expedited: Suraj
Bhubaneswar: Odisha's Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday said the State government can now appoint vice chancellors and faculty members across various universities, following the Supreme Court's decision to lift the stay order on such hirings. Welcoming Wednesday's apex court order, the minister said the verdict confirms that the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020 — introduced by the previous BJD government — was flawed and violated the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. 'The lifting of the stay will pave the way for the appointment process of vice chancellors and faculty members,' the minister said, assuring that steps would be taken promptly to fill the vacant posts in the State's universities. There are around 1,300 vacant faculty posts in the State universities. He remarked that the judgment resolves the stagnation in the higher education recruitment process, which he attributed to a 'historical error' committed by the previous government. 'The government is committed to the comprehensive development of education in the State. The new amended law has been framed in alignment with UGC guidelines to strengthen the higher education system in Odisha,' he said. The minister said the Odisha University (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed in the Assembly after an overnight discussion and received the Governor's assent, leading to the enactment of the new law. 'This marks a new dawn in Odisha's higher education landscape. Priority will now be given to ensuring university autonomy, preserving academic culture and accelerating the recruitment process. The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024 will serve as a milestone in strengthening the higher educational ecosystem of the State,' the minister said.
