The Post Graduate (PG) Council of the Utkal University on Sunday decided to seek suggestions from the Advocate General (AG) following tension over the allegation of criminal antecedents against a presidential candidate for the October 5 Students’ Union elections.
The authorities would seek the AG’s suggestion regarding the validity of the candidature of one Mahendra Pratap, an aspirant for the president post.
A meeting in this regard was convened at the PG Council office here to discuss the matter.
“We discussed the issue with the candidates along with representatives of other student organisations, lawyers and the Vice-Chancellor. It was unanimously decided that we will seek the suggestion of the AG, and based on his recommendation we will proceed further. But the election will be held in the campus as per the schedule,” PG Council Chairman Ranjal Bal told reporters after the meeting.
Officials attending the meeting said the university authorities are most likely to seek the AG’s suggestion on Monday.
Tension had also prevailed in the campus on Saturday after some students locked the main gate demanding arrest of Mahendra Pratap, whose nomination was validated by the authorities despite his ‘criminal antecedents’. The irate students had a scuffle with security personnel.
The students later came to the office of the Vice-Chancellor and staged a sit-in demanding arrest of Pratap.