By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: A six member delegation of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Odisha University Teachers met Union PNG-Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday to request Union intervention in withdrawal of the controversial Odisha Universities (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 which is being placed in the state Assembly for enactment. Soon after its release the Ordinance 2020 has been criticised as an encroachment of the autonomy of university system in the state.
Mentioning this ordinance as draconian, JAC has called for a complete withdrawal of the Ordinance and appealed the state government to put a stop on hasty efforts for enacting this controversial legislation. It is apprehended that once enacted, the entire university ecosystem for educational excellence would collapse. Prof. Kunja Bihari Panda, Convener JAC, has called for a state-wide silent protest by university teachers on 5th October to register the mass dissent against the attack on the university autonomy in the state.
The Ordinance 2020 encourages further bureaucratisation of the university system and oversteps the university autonomy in the recruitment of faculty members. It recommends appointment of teachers through the OPSC. The claims of the government that there is precedence of appointment of university teachers through the PSCs in many states have been considered misleading and rejected by the members of the JAC.
Moreover, it is ridiculous to cite states like Bihar and Jharkhand as examples of governance when it comes to running universities. Similarly, the proposals for abolishing the Senate, interference in the appointment of the VCs and changes in the composition of the syndicate are considered as efforts to squeeze the autonomy of the universities in the state. Since the Ordinance floated by the Government of Odisha is in conflict with the UGC guidelines for University governance, the members of the JAC also apprehend that the enactment of the Ordinance may eventually result in withdrawal of UGC support to Odisha’s Universities and de-recognition of the degrees offered by the universities in the state.
Education comes under the Concurrent list of the Constitution of India. Any policy related to education must have a nod from both the state government and the central government. The hasty efforts of the state government to implement the new changes even before their enactment raise serious questions on the purpose of such changes.
After a thorough discussion, the Union Minister has assured that sincere efforts will be made by him to address the concerns of the teaching community. A tweet by him immediately after meeting the delegation of JAC also reiterated the concerns.JAC has called for a state wide silent protest by university teachers on 5th October against the Ordinance, informed Prof. Kunja Bihari Panda, Convener, JAC.
