CUTTACK: In a significant order, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed that recruitment process of faculty members in Ravenshaw University shall continue but appointment orders cannot be issued.
Acting on a PIL writ petition filed by former Reader in English Dinesh Prasad Pattanayak, former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Berhampur University Prof MQ Khan and 14 other noted academicians of the State, a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice CJ Vineet Saran and Justice BR Sarangi issued notice to the VC of Ravenshaw University, Secretary of Higher Education Department and UGC asking them to file their response.
The PIL alleged illegalities and irregularities in Ravenshaw University in recruitment of faculty members for different departments. According to the petitioners, the present recruitment process was in violation of rules and regulations of UGC as well as the directives of High Court in an earlier judgment.
It was alleged that the action of the University authorities being tainted with malice, the same is liable to be quashed and recruitment of the faculty members be conducted in a fair and transparent manner as per rules and regulations under the direct supervision of a committee which may be constituted by the court.