Even as Prof Isan Kumar Patro has assumed charge as the new Vice-Chancellor of Ravenshaw University subject to disposal of a pending case in the Orissa High Court, his selection to the coveted post has entered into yet another major controversy.
This time, another VC aspirant, Prof Jayakrushna Panda, has challenged the very formation of the Search Committee, which scrutinised, shortlisted and interviewed seven from among the 37 applicants to the VC post. Earlier, Prof Nachiketa Das had moved the High Court alleging that with malafide intention, the university authorities and the Search Committee rejected his application for the post. Partly adjudicating Prof Das’ petition, the HC had allowed Prof Patro’s appointment subject to the outcome of the pending case.
This time however, stating that the UGC Regulations-2010 has been grossly violated, Prof Panda has alleged that the selection of the VC has been made “illegally” and “arbitrarily” to show favouritism to the chosen candidate debarring the worthy candidates like him. Challenging the very advertisement for the post and the constitution of the Search Committee, Prof Panda has filed the writ petition.
Admitting the petition, Justice SN Prasad on Monday issued notices to the opposite parties seeking their counters. Referring to UGC provisions that members of the Search Committee shall be persons of eminence in the sphere of higher education and shall not be connected in any manner with the university, Prof Panda has in his petition stated that two of the three members of the Search Committee were previously associated with the university and the chairman of the committee was a retired IAS officer, who had no experience in the sphere of higher education.
The petitioner has also questioned the advertisement for the post, wherein the university authorities have allegedly tinkered with the eligibility criteria. “Contrary to the UGC Regulations, the university authorities have deliberately deleted the administrative experience and inserted age limit in the eligibility criteria only to show favour to some candidates and debar other deserving candidates from participating in the interview,” the petition has said.