SAMBALPUR: The governor-cum-chancellor of universities, Ganeshi Lal, has instructed vice-chancellor of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) Atal Chaudhury not to take any major decision having financial implications before prior approval from him.
A letter in this regard was issued to Chaudhuri, whose tenure as vice-chancellor of the university will end on February 15, from Chittaranjan Mohanty, additional secretary to the chancellor, on February 5.
The letter said the vice-chancellor should not take any policy or major administrative decision like appointment and promotion till the end of his tenure. The disciplinary proceedings initiated against the faculty members may be finalised within the stipulated time. The decisions taken in the board management meetings may be incorporated in the minutes of the board meeting and correct minutes of the meeting issued within a week, said the letter.
The letter also said the instructions of the chancellor shall be implemented forthwith and scrupulously.
Academics said this was an unusual order. A vice-chancellor is generally instructed not to take any decision having financial implications and not to take any policy or major administrative decision when he or she gets an extension for a certain period after his or her tenure ends. The tenure of the vice-chancellor of VSSUT has not been extended, nor has it ended.
When contacted, Chaudhuri said, “I am out of station and I have not received the letter. I don’t know what is there in the letter but I think that it is a standard letter.”
Chaudhuri was mired in controversies because of disputes with faculty members and official action against them during his tenure. The teachers of VSSUT had also staged dharna and even resorted to cease-work, demanding removal of the vice-chancellor in July 2019.