Bhubaneswar: Fakir Mohan Autonomous College has removed Dr Santosh Kumar Nayak from the post of Head of the Department (HOD) of Odia after receiving a written complaint of harassment from a female student.
The allegation petition, submitted by a student named Priti (full name not disclosed in the complaint), reached the college on April 6, 2026. Acting swiftly on the same day, the college authorities relieved Dr Nayak — who is an Assistant Professor in the Odia department — of his HOD responsibilities through an office order issued on April 4, 2026 (Office Order No. 1584).
The matter has been referred to the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) with instructions to conduct a detailed enquiry and submit its report at the earliest.
According to a status report submitted by the Office of the Regional Director of Education, Balasore, to the Higher Education Department, the Regional Director personally visited the college on April 6 and met the Principal to review the action taken.
The petition, sent via speed post, did not mention the complainant’s full name or contact details, making it difficult for authorities to immediately verify the allegations or contact the student.
The Internal Complaints Committee has now urged the student to appear before the panel by tomorrow to provide further details and present her version of events. University officials have stated that any further action will depend on the student coming forward with sufficient evidence and cooperating with the enquiry.
“On interaction with the Principal of the College, he told that Dr. Santosh Kumar Nayak Asst. Professor Odia and HOD has been removed from the post of HOD vide Office Order No. 1584 dt. 04.04.2026 and also stated that the matter of allegation petition has been transmitted to the Internal Complaint Committee of the College with an instruction for conduct of enquiry and submission of report thereof at the earliest”, read the letter issued by the Office of the Regional Director of Education, Balasore to the Joint Secretary to Government of Department of Higher Education.
