The debate on the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill remained inconclusive with Opposition Congress opposing it stiffly in the State Assembly for a second day on Thursday.
“The State Government has been trying to amend the Odisha Universities Act 1989 for the last five years since 2015. There was deep-rooted conspiracy behind bring an Ordinance to amend the Act,” said Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra.
He said a Bill to amend the Universities Act drafted by a committee of inexperienced members moved to-and-fro from Higher Education Department to Law Department and General Administration Department. While the Law Department made rectifications time and again, it was being omitted. “The intension of the Government became clear when the Higher Education Department told the public about the Bill through the Press conference.
The Minister called a Press conference to make know people know about the Bill as most of intellectuals didn’t accept the proposals. But it has not impressed the intellectuals,” said Mishra, adding that he has received many complaints in writing from many intellectuals.He slammed Government to bring an Ordinance and then a Bill to amend existing Universities Act at a time when people of State are suffering a lot due to Covid pandemic and Government is supposed to give more concentration on combating epidemic.