HC Asks Odisha Govt, AHPGIC To Choose New Director In-Charge; Know Why

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has ruled against continuation of Dr Lalitendu Sarangi as director-in-charge of Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC) by way of periodic extensions after his retirement on March 17, 2022.

The division bench of Chief Justice Subhasis Talapatra and Justice Savitri Ratho, while disposing of a PIL recently, directed the state government and the institute to choose a new director in-charge till the time a director is appointed. “We are constrained to observe that the said short-circuited step as taken for engaging the director I/C completely violates Clause 11 (8) of the Bye-laws…. convene a meeting of the executive committee within a period of five days and recommend a panel of three professors after considering that they have eligibility criteria, requisites from among the senior most professors, to the governing body for the posting of the director in-charge till the regular director is appointed by the selection committee,” it said.

The bench  asked the governing body to sit within seven days and engage the in-charge director till the regular director is appointed. “Till then, Dr Lalitendu Sarangi shall be allowed to continue, but thereafter he shall not be allowed to continue as the in-charge director and his engagement, as referred, shall automatically come to an end, in view of our order,” it added.