Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) Vice-Chancellor Prof CR Tripathy’s administrative and financial powers, which were withdrawn from May 26, 2018 by an order of the former Governor, have once again been restored to him by an order of incumbent Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal.
It is to be noted that Prof Tripathy assumed the office of VC from November 13, 2017. But the then Governor (in-charge) and Chancellor of universities was apprised by the State Skill Development and the Technical Education Department that several administrative and financial irregularities were committed by Prof Tripathy during his tenure.
So, basing on the allegation, the then Governor on May 26, 2018, two days before his tenure ended in Odisha, directed the Chief Secretary to conduct a Vigilance inquiry into the allegations and, simultaneously, asked the Northern Division RDC to take over the administrative and financial powers of the VC.
At that time, it was alleged that Tripathy became the victim of a Bhubaneswar lobby. Since the inception of the BPUT, it has been alleged that a few top mandarins sitting at Bhubaneswar have been lobbying to shift the university from Rourkela to the State capital and many of them who are employed in the BPUT are functioning from there. As VC, Tripathy asked them to function from Rourkela.
On the other hand due to the inordinate delay in the Vigilance inquiry into alleged financial irregularities by the VC, development works of the university were hit.
Even as the VC became powerless, the RDC sat over many important files of the university being saddled with other important responsibilities. Similarly, it was also another difficulty on part of the university staffers to take the files to Sambalpur to get the approval from the RDC.
Anyway finally, the Governor passed an order a couple of days ago in favour of Tripathy to resume his office with all powers as usual. Many hope that with the stalemate resolved, the development works of the university can be expedited. Now, all eyes are on the outcome of the Vigilance inquiry.