Teachers’ Body Of Ravenshaw Demands Repeal Of Odisha University Ordinance 2020

Cuttack : A general body meeting of Ravenshaw University Teachers’ Association (RUTA) was held here recently through online to discuss regarding the new Odisha University (amendment) ordinance 2020 brought by the Odisha government.

With deep sense of sorrow and anguish, the general body observed that the amendments made in the ordinance are detrimental to the very idea of university.

The Ravenshaw University used to get its special unitary status by the Ravenshaw University Act, 2005 passed by the Odisha Assembly, the body said.

The RUTA observed that snatching away of the special status to this historic institute by repealing this act will affect the future of the higher education of the state.

The idea of university carries with it the inherent urge not only to disseminate knowledge but also to create new knowledge.

The ordinance further intended to increase number of government nominees into the syndicate of the Universities to gain complete control over University administration.

In a blatant shift to the age-old accepted position of giving utmost autonomy to the universities, the ordinance further snatches away the power of the university to appoint teachers to respective departments and centers.

The ordinance 2020 further opened the floodgate to facilitate direct government intervention in the process of Vice-Chancellor selection.

All these amendments are completely in the wrong direction to snatch the autonomy of state universities. It will badly affect the higher education in the state and will create bureaucratic control over the Universities.

The RUTA demanded the state government to completely repeal the Odisha University Ordinance 2020.