Chancellor of universities and Governor Dr SC Jamir would interview the three shortlisted candidates on March 28 for the post of Vice-Chancellor of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
OUAT Registrar has intimated the shortlisted candidates to be present before the Chancellor for personal interaction.
The candidates selected by the Search Committee are incumbent VC Prof Manoranjan Kar, former Dean (Extension) Dr S Nanda and Prof SN Pasupalak, sources said.
However, the sources said, some candidates have petitioned the Chancellor questioning the disclosure of these names which was published in a section of newspapers.
The candidates have apprehended influence on members of the Search Committee for the disclosure of the three names much before the Chancellor’s interaction date. They have questioned about various considerations on the decision of the committee.
According to knowledgeable circles, the continuance Prof Manoranjan Kar, if chosen for a second term in the same university, would violate the UGC norms which prohibit retention of a person in the same university after completion of the first term as VC. Notably, an UGC order in this regard is still pending at the Orissa High Court for disposal.
Regarding the other two candidates, Dr Nanda and Pasupalak, petitions have been sent to the Chancellor on their acts of omissions and commissions.
Apparently eligibility on candidature with nature of allegation restricts them for the appointment to the VC post in view of a Supreme Court judgement where integrity has been insisted as one of the primary considerations while disposing the case of Ram Tabak Singh Vs Chancellor, Bihar quashing the appointment of a VC in Bihar.
Interestingly, the Chancellor’s notification of formation of the Search Committee on February 25 had restricted the committee to scrutinise applications and bio-data recommended by the ICAR and the State Government and to recommend three names to the Chancellor, but the OUAT Registrar directed the candidates for interaction with the committee.
Moreover, the Orissa High Court has so far not disposed of two PIls yet in the matter of appointment of OUAT VC.
Many outside candidates with brilliant records had also come for interaction with the Search Committee, but inviting these three candidates for interaction with the Chancellor has prompted RTI activists to seek information on score card and assessment of each candidate from the Chancellor’s office.
Meanwhile, after a report published in The Pioneer on payment of travelling allowance without approval of the State Government and budgetary provision of the university, the authorities now have moved the Government for sanction and provision after payment of allowances from other funds of university to regularise the matter.
Under such circumstances, all eyes are on the Chancellor for his decision. Recently, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathy had returned the recommendations to the Search Committee for reconsideration in the matter of appointment of VCs of the Bidhan Chandra Krushi Vidyalaya and Uttar Banga Agricultural University.