The Utkal University Teachers’ Association (UUTA) elections would be held in January 2019, informed UUTA secretary Prof Kunja Bihari Panda at a Press meet held here on Monday.
It may be mentioned here that the elections for the association was marred by three youths a week ago. The youths had forcibly snatched away the nomination box minutes before the end of nomination on December 11. They had also asked the returning officer to stop the election.
Panda lamented saying that the university administration did not forward their complaint to police. Even as the returning officer lodged an FIR at the Saheed Nagar police station, accused persons have not been arrested yet.
If action is not taken against the accused soon, the association would approach Chancellor of Universities and Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal to seek action against them, Panda said.
He mentioned that the three persons who broke into the office of the returning officer and took the nomination box away are apparently staying in the hostels of the university illegally and one of accused is also teaching as a guest faculty in the University Law College.
Panda clarified that the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar are not involved in the matter.
The association also requested all sections of the university community to refrain from making an issue out of the election.
Panda said if university authorities failed to drive out outsiders from the university campus, the association would form a group and oust them from the university hostels.
He informed that elections would be held in January and police protection would be taken, if needed, for its smooth conduct.
Among others, association VP Prof Maheswar Sahu, treasurer Satya Narayan Pal and joint secretary Shiba Sankar Mohanty were present.