Bhubaneswar, 5 June (H.S.): Odisha has reopened the selection process for vice-chancellors across its public universities, ending a three-year hiatus. Following the enactment of the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, the state government is now accepting applications to fill leadership roles at 13 institutions.
Among the universities slated for new vice-chancellors are Utkal University, Ravenshaw University, and Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo University. These vacancies have remained unfilled since May 2022, when a Supreme Court stay halted appointments after disputes arose over the 2020 legislative changes that allegedly conflicted with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.
Under the previous framework, vice-chancellors served a fixed term of four years or until reaching the age of 70. Ongoing legal challenges forced universities to rely on interim arrangements, appointing senior professors or extending existing tenures.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj explained that the 2024 amendment addresses past delays by permitting early advertisement of vacancies in anticipation of retirements, thereby ensuring smoother and more timely recruitment.
Interested candidates must submit their applications in accordance with the notification issued by the Department of Higher Education. Exact details regarding eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and the selection process will be published on the state government’s official portal.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda