Opposition BJP and Congress members severely criticised the State Government over the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, which was presented in the State Assembly on Tuesday, saying the amendments would take away the autonomy of the universities.

Raising the issue before presentation of the Bill, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik said amendments, if made, to the process of recruitment of teachers and nonteaching employees and selection mode of Vice-Chancellors would take away the autonomy of the universities.“he Government is trying to keep the administration of universities under its control,” he alleged.Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra wanted to know why the State Government is in a hurry to pass the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill while Covid-19 pandemic has kept people in a state of fear. Will the Bill contain the Covid situation in the State, he wanted to know.

“The State Government has an ulterior motive behind bringing and passing the University Bill, which will damage the very essence of autonomy of the universities. There should be a division of votes at the time of passing of the Bill,” Mishra said. Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati terming the Ordinance as a “Black Bill, demanded that the Bill should be sent to the select committee first.

He tore a copy of the Bill in protest, demanding that the Bill must not be presented in the House. BJP members Jayarayan Mishra and Mukesh Mahalingam and Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja too opposed the Ordinance.

Both BJP and Congress members staged a walkout as Higher Education Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo presented the Bill despite their protest.

 In his response, the Minister said Universities would not lose even a single point of autonomy. He said the Government wants that all universities run under a single Universities Act under similar guidelines and laws.