The Governor of Odisha has annulled the appointment of Professor Jagneshwar Dandapat as the interim Vice Chancellor of Utkal University.
The announcement was made public during proceedings in the Orissa High Court on Monday, according to Advocate General Pitambar Acharya.
The move comes nearly two months after Prof. Dandapat — head of the university’s Department of Biotechnology — was designated to lead the institution temporarily following the end of Prof. Sabita Acharya’s tenure extension. His appointment, announced via official notification in May, was supposed to last until a permanent successor was named.
While the Chancellor’s reasons for quashing the appointment remain unspecified, sources suggest it may involve procedural irregularities or a reassessment of eligibility norms under the university statutes. The development has triggered discourse in Odisha’s academic circles, as it reflects a growing scrutiny over ad hoc appointments within state-run institutions.
University faculty have expressed surprise at the move, with some calling for greater transparency and consistency in governance decisions. The state government is yet to release a formal statement, while observers await news of a new nominee to steer one of Odisha’s premier institutions.
This is not the first time a temporary VC appointment has faced challenges. Similar debates have emerged in recent months across other state universities, signalling a broader shift towards accountability and procedural rigour in higher education administration.
