Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court has lifted the stay imposed on the appointment of Vice Chancellors and faculty members in universities across Odisha, the state government said on Thursday.
While hearing the case related to the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020, the Supreme Court has lifted the interim stay order. With this verdict, appointments can now be made in accordance with the new Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, it said in a statement.
Welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the verdict confirms that the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020 introduced by the previous 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 to resume under the framework of the Odisha University (Amendment) act, 2024. He said expeditious steps will be taken to fill the vacant posts.
The Minister further stated that this judgment will do away with the stagnation in the higher education recruitment process caused by the historical error of the previous government. The government is committed to the comprehensive development of education in the state. The new amendment law has been framed in alignment with UGC guidelines to strengthen the higher education system in Odisha.
Suraj stressed that after an overnight discussion in the State Assembly, the Bill was passed 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 placed on 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, he added.
