The State Cabinet on Monday gave its assent to amendment to certain provisions of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology Act, 2002 (Odisha Act 9 of 2002) to further strengthen the functioning of the university.
With the proposed amendment, the State Government will have a total control over the functioning of BPUT.
A new provision will be inserted in the BPUT Act for appointment of Pro Chancellor for better functioning of the university. After the amendment, the Minister for Employment and Technical Education and Training (ETET) will be appointed as Pro Chancellor of BPUT, Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra told reporters.
The Pro Chancellor will preside over the convocation in the absence of the Chancellor and perform his functions. Since BPUT has no power to grant autonomy to its constituent colleges, the proposed amendment will enable the university to consider any proposal for autonomy and regulate the affiliated colleges transparently.
The Cabinet also approved the ETET department proposal to reduce the term of the Vice-Chancellor from five years to three years to bring about uniformity with other universities.
As the existing provision of the Act has no clarity on the appointment of the Registrar, it has been proposed to make provision for appointment of an officer of the Odisha Administrative Service, not below the rank of the Joint Secretary, in the post.
Similarly, a Joint Secretary level officer of the Odisha Finance Service will be appointed as the Finance Officer of the university.
Changes in the BPUT Act has been suggested to avoid delay in the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff.
It has been proposed to limit the power of the Chancellor for constitution of selection committees for selection of teaching staff not below the rank of the Assistant Professor.
Suitable amendments will be made to give power to the Vice-Chancellor to constitute separate committees for selection of teaching staff below the rank of the Assistant Professor and non-teaching staff, the Chief Secretary said.