The MBA students of the Regional College of Management (RCM) on Monday decided to launch indefinite stir from Tuesday demanding issuance of final degree certificate in favour of pass-out students without further delay.
Notably, due to a dispute over its admission into MBA course, the institute has not been able to get certificates from the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) since 2009 and hence, has failed to provide them to the pass-out students.
According to reports, around 480 MBA students of the college have not got their final degree certificates since 2009. When the students took up the issue with the college authorities and urged them to expedite steps for issue of their certificates, the latter replied that they were yet to get the certificates from the BPUT and assured of issuing the certificates soon after getting them.
When the students approached the BPUT in turn, the university authorities categorically made it clear that they could not issue certificates to the RCM since the institute had run its MBA course without affiliation and a case on the matter is pending in the Odisha High Court since 2009. “With both the college and the university, having expressed their helplessness over issuing us certificates, now it is certain that our future is dark. We cannot apply for jobs unless we produce MBA degree certificates,” said MBA second year student Swayam Moahapatra of RCM.
The students had also met Minister of Employment and Technical Education and Training Pratap Keshari Deb. Deb said the RCM had violated rules of the Odisha Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act 2007 and assured of action. When contacted, RCMA director Prof Prabir Pal said the institution authorities had moved the High Court in 2009 against the State Government regarding the admission issue. The case is yet to be settled and hence, the BPUT is reluctant to issue certificates, he said.
“If we have no affiliation, why the OJEE has been sending us students since 2009,” questioned Pal, adding, “The allegation of running the MBA programme in the college without affiliation is not true.” Pal also said that the problem would be sorted out within 10 days. “If the BPUT issues certificates in favour of our students, the college will withdraw the case in the court,” he asserted.