Bhubaneswar: Faculty members of Ravenshaw University have expressed strong resentment over the varsity administration’s decision to appoint a new Chief Warden, Deputy Chief Wardens, Wardens and Deputy Wardens for its hostels without consulting them.
The Ravenshaw University Teachers’ Association (RUTA) has objected to the appointments made for 13 hostels and submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra on Friday. The association has urged the VC to withdraw the decision and reconsider the appointments.
RUTA has also pressed for action on two other pending demands, including justice for faculty members in connection with the recent dispute involving Cuttack Sadar MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi and former Chief Warden Sudarshan Mishra.
“We urged the VC to withdraw the decision to appoint a new Chief Warden and other officials for the hostels. We also requested him to take the necessary steps to give justice to the faculty members in connection with the dispute involving the MLA and the Chief Warden. The RUTA will take a decision on its future course of action if the authorities fail to fulfill our demands,” said faculty member Netaji Abhinandan.
The controversy stems from an alleged face-off between then Chief Warden Sudarshan Mishra and the Cuttack Sadar MLA over issues related to the East Hostel. Following the incident, Mishra and other wardens had collectively submitted their resignations to the VC. RUTA had blamed the legislator for the confrontation and demanded an unconditional apology from him. In response, the MLA wrote to the Odisha Assembly Speaker seeking action against the Chief Warden.
Amid the ongoing row, the university authorities appointed a new Chief Warden to replace Mishra two days ago. New Deputy Chief Wardens, Wardens and Deputy Wardens were also appointed for the varsity hostels.The teachers’ body has warned that it will decide the next course of action if its demands are not addressed.
