Bhubaneswar: At least five state public universities under the higher education department are functioning without permanent vice-chancellors, while the tenure of VCs of two others has been extended as a stop-gap measure, creating administrative challenges for the institutes, academics and faculty members said.
Aparajita Chowdhury, VC of Rama Devi Women’s University (RDWU) here, recently requested the governor, who is chancellor of state public universities, to step down from her post. She will be relieved from her post on Tuesday. PG Council’s chairperson will be in-charge VC of the university.
On Dec 25, Sanjay Satapathy, VC of Maa Manikeshwari University, Bhawanipatna, passed away. A professor is now in-charge of the university affairs. After the tenure of VC of Khallikote Unitary University, Berhampur, ended, Berhampur University’s VC Geetanjali Dash took additional charge of the Khallikote institute.
After Rabindra Kumar Panda, VC of Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri, left before the end of his tenure, Odia University’s VC, Sabita Pradhan, took charge. Later, Utkal University of Culture’s VC, Prasanna Kumar Swain, became in-charge VC of the Puri university.
Santosh Kumar Tripathy, VC of Fakir Mohan University (FMU), Balasore, has been managing Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo (MSCB) University, Baripada since Nov 2022 as in-charge VC. Recently, the governor extended the tenures of VCs of Utkal University and Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, after the completion of their four-year terms.
“This situation has created administrative challenges in these institutions. The absence of permanent leadership affects long-term planning and decision-making processes. An in-charge VC cannot take policy decisions like a permanent appointee,” said Siba Prasad Adhikary, former VC of FMU. He also expressed concern over appointment of a VC of a university under the culture department as in-charge VC of an institute under the higher education department. “Even Odisha State Higher Education Council does not have a chairperson,” he added.
Faculty members have expressed concerns about the impact on academic development and research initiatives. “The extended tenure of existing VCs in five universities is a temporary solution. This arrangement, while maintaining basic administrative functions, may not be ideal for implementing new academic programmes or institutional reforms,” said a professor of RDWU.
“Appointment of permanent VCs is crucial for maintaining academic standards and institutional growth. The leadership vacuum needs to be addressed promptly to ensure smooth functioning of these important educational institutess,” said another faculty member.
Higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj had earlier said that new VCs will be appointed after amending the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020.