Cuttack: A day after assuming charge as Vice-Chancellor of Madhusudan Law University, Prof Sibaram Tripathy on Saturday outlined an ambitious roadmap to transform legal education in Odisha, focusing on academic quality, administrative reforms and enhanced student employability.
Addressing mediapersons on the university campus, Tripathy described the press as the “watchdog of society” and sought cooperation from the media fraternity in strengthening the state’s legal education ecosystem. With over 30 affiliated law colleges under the university’s jurisdiction, he said the task ahead was both urgent and comprehensive.
Placing academic reform at the core of his agenda, the Vice-Chancellor stressed the need for quality teaching through proper faculty recruitment. He noted that since its elevation to a university in 2021, the institution has largely depended on guest faculty and has been functioning without permanent teaching staff for nearly five years. Filling these vacancies, he said, would be his top priority.
Tripathy also announced a series of administrative reforms, including the introduction of a single-window clearance system to streamline student services and reduce procedural delays.
Highlighting the importance of employability, he proposed setting up a dedicated placement cell with linkages to industries and institutions, along with student exchange programmes with premier law centres such as Banaras Hindu University, where he previously served for over two decades.
The university will also aim to secure a position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), he said. To honour the legacy of Madhusudan Das, after whom the institution is named, Tripathy announced plans to establish a “Madhusudan Chair” and a “Madhusudan Legal Forum” featuring monthly lectures by eminent personalities.
Emphasising discipline, he said regular classes, timely completion of syllabus, strict attendance norms and zero tolerance towards examination malpractice would be non-negotiable. Students failing to meet attendance requirements would not be allowed to fill examination forms.
The Vice-Chancellor further announced plans to revive the Human Rights cell and legal aid cell, and to promote a pro bono culture among students to serve marginalised communities. He also proposed implementation of the Centre’s Mission Karmayogi and the Odisha government’s Shaktishree Yojana to enhance institutional capacity and student support systems.
“Degrees should not merely be distributed; our graduates must be market-ready and competitive at the national level,” Tripathy said.
