Amendment Of Odisha Universities Act: Dharmendra Seeks Union Education Minister’s Intervention

New Delhi: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has drawn the attention of Union Education Minister Ramesh Pohriyal ‘Nishank’ to the amendment of Odisha Universities Act, 1989 by the state government through an ordinance, seeking his intervention.

In a letter to ‘Nishank’, Pradhan said the amendment has come under severe criticism from the state’s academic community due to the drastic and regressive changes. Quoting a representation submitted to him by two academicians, Pradhan said the amendment has stripped the universities of their autonomy by bringing those under Higher Education department.

The state government has replaced the Senate with bureaucratic Syndicate which will effectively which will be effectively run by the government appointed nominees. Similarly, the appointment of vice-chancellor has been restricted by forced entry of a nominee in the search committee, Pradhan said.

Besides, the academic sanctity of staff appointment has been dismantled by forced recruitment of professors, assistant professors, and other employees through Odisha Public Service Commission and non-teaching staff through State Selection Board bypassing the selection committee headed by the vice-chancellor.

By removing the provision of tabling the university audit report in the Assembly, the government has crippled the constitutional process of discussion and scrutiny of utilisation of funds, the letter stated.

Going by the Supreme Court judgment in the Osmania University Teachers’ Union case against Andhra Pradesh government, the ordinance is liable to be struck down by court, Pradhan said.

Since the ordinance goes contrary to the vision of the Prime Minister in National Education Policy to promote autonomy of academic institutions, the Petroleum Minister sought the intervention of the Education Minister.