Bhubaneswar: In a significant development for higher education in Odisha, the Supreme Court has upheld the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) objections regarding irregular appointments made in state universities under the previous government.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj confirmed that the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the UGC, though the official verdict is yet to be uploaded.
“The Supreme Court has addressed the irregularities in appointments of lecturers and professors. It has clearly stated that the procedure followed by the former government was flawed,” Suraj said. “All irregularities have now been rectified and we are preparing to begin the process of appointing Vice-Chancellors and Professors very soon.”
The Minister added that the recruitment process will be carried out in line with the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, which was enacted last month to ensure compliance with UGC norms. He emphasized that the previous policies had contravened these regulations, prompting the UGC to seek judicial review.
“The Supreme Court’s verdict, delivered on Wednesday, upholds the UGC’s position and declares the earlier appointments invalid,” Suraj stated.
With the legal hurdle cleared, the state government is expected to fast-track the long-pending recruitment of academic and administrative heads, a move likely to strengthen governance and academic standards in public universities across the state.
