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Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Guv gets power to appoint interim VCs in state univs
Bhubaneswar: State cabinet, led by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Wednesday approved a new ordinance granting the governor enhanced powers to appoint interim vice-chancellors in state-funded universities. The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, allows the governor, who serves as the chancellor of state universities, to appoint temporary VCs when regular appointments are pending after the incumbent's term expires. "The ordinance expands the chancellor's jurisdiction regarding VC appointments under the Odisha Universities Act, 1989," chief secretary Manoj Ahuja told reporters after the meeting. The ordinance is likely to be notified within a day or two. As per the existing Act, appointing an in-charge VC may lead to potential academic and administrative complications as they don't enjoy the full power of a regular VC. After the ordinance, while the governor can pick anyone as VC for the interim period, the person will enjoy the complete power of a VC till the regular appointment is made. The chancellor can fix the tenure of such VCs to ensure continuity and stability in university governance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Các chỉ số toàn cầu đang biến động — Đã đến lúc giao dịch! IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo TOI had highlighted the problems of state universities in the absence of VCs in a series of articles. The govt's move comes at a crucial time, with 13 out of 17 state universities either operating without permanent vice-chancellors or those approaching the end of their current tenures. Officials said the ordinance was necessary as the regular selection process for new appointments could be time-consuming, and the appointment of in-charge VCs would slow down university works. While academics welcomed the move, they expressed reservations about the power to appoint anyone as interim VC without fixing eligibility criteria, which would include non-academics and administrators. Last month, the higher education department invited applications from eligible applicants for the post of VCs of 13 state public universities.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How did unpaid electricity bills in Bhopal city alone cross 100 cr?
Bhopal: There are at least 86 domestic consumers in the city who owe more than Rs 1 lakh each in outstanding electricity bills. The consumer with the highest outstanding amount owes more than Rs 4.2 lakh. Overall, the amount that remains outstanding with these 86 domestic consumers ranges between Rs 4.2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh. If the overall amount of unpaid bills is considered and calculated, it comes to more than Rs 100 crores in Bhopal city alone. The question that remains unanswered is how outstanding amounts in the city reached such high levels when the connection of a normal domestic consumer is typically disconnected if the outstanding amount is above Rs 5000. Sources from the discom say that the majority of these consumers, who have outstanding amounts above Rs 1 lakh, have some form of dispute, and in many cases, the matter is also sub-judice. For instance, in the case of the consumer with the highest outstanding amount, it is the domestic connection of a colony that comes under the Katara Hills distribution office of the discom. Sources said that this consumer has been paying regular bills, but a disputed amount of around Rs 4.15 lakh has been due for several years, as the matter related to it is in court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo TOI also checked the current bill of the consumer, which states that the current month's bill amount is Rs 2246, the delayed payment surcharge is Rs 5199, and old arrears are Rs 4,15,881, making the overall amount payable Rs 4,21,079. This means that the connection is still active, and the consumer is paying month on month, only the old arrear is not being paid. After the list of those who have outstanding amounts of more than Rs 1 lakh, comes the category of those consumers who have outstanding amounts between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh—overall, there are 16,681 such consumers. The consumer with the maximum outstanding amount in this category owes Rs 99,797, and the consumer with the lowest outstanding amount in this category owes Rs 10,001. Besides these, there are 19,704 consumers who have an outstanding between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 to the discom. This amount is as of June 2, 2025.
