TV
The Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA) on Thursday asked why the Juvenile Justice Act has not been applied to former BJD MP Achyuta Samanta’s KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) even though the institution has students of minor age groups.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, an RTI activist, Pradip Pradhan said, “...Achyuta Samanta has been benefited directly and indirectly by the government. He has taken around 130 acre land from the Odisha government. I have also collected information how KISS is getting rice and other benefits.”
Why isn’t KIIT University under RTI ambit?
The OSAA further questioned why the university has not been brought under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
When Ashok Parija was the Advocate General, a petition was filed regarding this matter. However, Parija himself represented KIIT as a lawyer. The petition was rejected, preventing KIIT from coming under the RTI Act, OSAA rued.
The organisation accused former Advocate General Ashok Parija of favouring the KIIT University during his stint.
OSAA Demands Achyuta Samanta’s Arrest
The OSAA also called for the immediate arrest of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology's (KIIT) University founder Achyuta Samanta. There have been allegations of irregularities against the university.
Also Read: ‘Disappearance’ of students at Achyuta Samanta's KISS in Bhubaneswar raises concern
What is KISS?
As per the KISS website, the institution claims that it provides free education, accommodation, food and healthcare to over 30,000 indigenous students currently studying at its main campus in Bhubaneswar and also additionally serve 10,000 students across its satellite centers.
