13 state universities get closer to appointing new vice-chancellors after long wait

Bhubaneswar: Eight months after the higher education department initiated the process to appoint vice-chancellors to 13 state-run universities, the verification of credentials of shortlisted candidates is underway, officials said.

Following the enactment of the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, after the governor’s approval on April 12 last year, the department on June 3 invited applications from distinguished and eligible academics for VC posts in 13 public universities functioning without regular heads. While some existing VCs are on extension for six months, some universities are being managed by the senior-most professors as in-charge VCs.


According to official records, nearly 350 applications were received for the VC posts. Subsequently, governor and chancellor of universities, Hari Babu Kambhampati, told media persons that scrutiny of the applications began immediately and that the recruitment process would be completed within two-three months.

Under the new norms, a three-member selection committee comprising eminent educationists is required to be constituted for each university to shortlist candidates for the VC post, with the final appointment subject to approval from the governor. An official said the selection committees constituted for the 13 universities have already shortlisted candidates for the VC posts and forwarded the panel of names to state govt. “Appointments will be made after completion of the verification process and approval from the governor,” the official said, adding that VC appointments will pave the way for faculty recruitment in the universities.

The apparent delay has come at a time when state universities are grappling with acute staff shortage, with nearly 2,117 faculty posts — spanning professors, associate professors and assistant professors — and about 2,500 non-teaching positions lying vacant.

BJD members on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the governor, drawing attention to the vacancies and urging that the VC recruitment process be completed by the end of Feb. They warned of statewide agitations if the appointments are not finalised within the stipulated time-frame.

BJD MLA and former higher education minister Arun Sahoo said that even after 18 months of a BJP govt in Odisha, the state has failed to appoint full-time VCs in public universities. He alleged that in-charge VCs lack both recruitment and financial powers, which is severely hampering the academic and administrative functioning of the universities.