The BJP and other political and student organisations have stiffly opposed the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 saying proposed amendments to the earlier Universities Acts are meant to bureaucratise the higher education system and lower its standard with more political interference.
“The amendments will lead to irregularities in appointment of readers. With Government interference in selection Vice-Chancellors, the dignity of the prestigious post will be hampered. With withdrawal of Senate, the universities will lose their democratic power,” pointed out BJP leaders at a Press conference on Friday.
Party general secretaries Prithviranj Harichandan and Dr Lekhasri Samantsinghar and spokesperson Pitambar Acharya spoke. State spokesperson Dr Jatin Mohanty was present.
The Samajwadi Party, Odisha Committee termed the move as an attack on the university autonomy.
SP State president Rabi Behera said the State Government should refrain from destroying the freedom of the universities. Otherwise, it would face a strong student movement, warned Behera.
The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has protested the ordinance. “The proposed amendments will destroy the autonomy of the universities and the higher education system as well,” said president Ganesh Tripathy and secretary Subas Nayak.
The Ravenshaw Bikash Abhijan said the amendments would commercialise the higher education further. “The proposed amendments are undemocratic. Scrapping of Senate system indicates the Government’s conspiracy to commercialise the university education. We condemn the move to scrap the Ravenshaw University Act,” said Abihyan president Chittaranjan Mohanty and other functionaries at a Press conference held in Cuttack.