Kataka: Amid the ongoing stand-off between faculty and Kataka Sadar MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi, Vice Chancellor of Ravenshaw University here, Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra, on Friday asserted that efforts are underway to resolve the issue while reassuring that academic and hostel operations on campus remain completely unaffected.
“No classes have been dropped, faculty members are delivering lectures as scheduled, and students are regularly attending classes. Hostels are also functioning smoothly,” he told reporters.
To ensure student welfare and safety, the Vice-Chancellor’s office and the Registrar’s office are directly monitoring hostel management. Dedicated caretakers in boys’ hostels and matrons in girls’ hostels provide round-the-clock service. Direct contact numbers for four senior officers have been shared with hostellers for immediate assistance in case of any issue, he said.
The VC further stated that discussions have been initiated with key stakeholders, including the Chancellor (the Governor of Odisha), the State Higher Education Department, the Ravenshaw University Teachers’ Association, and the MLA concerned, to reach a peaceful resolution. “I tried yesterday to reach a formal, official conclusion to close the matter… Both sides need to agree, and efforts are ongoing to bring both parties to a consensus.”
Describing the brief flare-up as an “unfortunate and unnecessary incident”, the VC noted that authorities responded swiftly within 15–20 seconds to bring the situation under control.
The controversy erupted following an incident at East Hostel of the varsity, where student protests over accommodation grievances led to a heated confrontation between Kataka Sadar MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi and university staff on August 3. Faculty representatives and RUTA accused the legislator of uninvited political interference, collecting student signatures, and verbally abusing Chief Warden Sudarshan Mishra. In response to the alleged intimidation and breach of administrative decorum, 29 hostel wardens and deputy wardens submitted mass resignations, throwing hostel administration into an impasse and prompting campus-wide rallies by faculty and students demanding an unconditional apology from the MLA before the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
On Thursday, RUTA President Urmishree Bedamatta urged the Chancellor to establish a strict institutional protocol governing visits by elected public representatives, pointing out that final official notifications for the university Senate have not been issued, making the MLA’s claim of intervening in campus affairs as a Senate member unsustainable.
While rejecting the allegations of misbehaviour, Sethi had asserted that he visited the campus as a local representative and Senate member to help resolve the students’ issues. He also accused Chief Warden of disrespectful and insulting conduct during the meeting, describing it as gross misconduct that undermined the dignity of an elected representative. He has written to the Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker seeking action against him. The MLA has further alleged that wardens were not properly monitoring hostels and claimed some elements were attempting to defame the state government by dragging the hunger strike of the East hostel boarders. He indicated plans to meet the Governor to present his version of events.
Addressing questions regarding Senate members and notifications, the VC explained that Senate body formation follows standard statutory university acts. Revised lists and official notifications are formally processed and maintained through the Registrar’s office. “The process is underway,” he said, while urging both the legislator and the Ravenshaw University Teachers’ Association to move past misunderstandings and work toward a common resolution.
He also appealed to the students to stay focused on their primary purpose — attending classes, engaging in academic activities, and pursuing their education.