Bhubaneswar, 05 August (H.S.) : A fresh controversy has surfaced at Ravenshaw University after Cuttack Sadar MLA and Senate Member Prakash Chandra Sethi wrote to Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, seeking action against a senior faculty member over alleged misconduct during a meeting held to address a student protest.

In a letter dated August 4, Sethi accused the university’s Head of the Department of Education and Chief Warden, Dr. Sudarshan Mishra, of behaving in an “inappropriate and disrespectful” manner during discussions convened in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor. The meeting was called to resolve an ongoing indefinite hunger strike by students of the East Hostel.

The protest has been underway with students alleging harassment by the Deputy Warden and demanding appropriate action. Sethi stated that he attended the meeting in his dual capacity as a Senate Member of Ravenshaw University and the elected representative of the Cuttack Sadar Assembly constituency, with the aim of facilitating a constructive resolution.

According to the MLA, while he was presenting suggestions during the discussion, Dr. Mishra allegedly interrupted him repeatedly, engaged in arguments, and displayed conduct unbecoming of a senior academic administrator. Sethi claimed that such behaviour undermined the dignity of an elected public representative.

Terming the incident as “gross misconduct,” the MLA urged the Speaker to initiate appropriate action against Dr. Mishra. He also requested that necessary directions be issued to prevent recurrence of such incidents and to uphold the dignity of the Legislative Assembly and its members.

The development comes at a time when unrest continues on the Ravenshaw University campus, with students intensifying their demands for action against the Deputy Warden over the alleged harassment.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda