Cuttack: The annual function of the Students’ Union of Ravenshaw University has been put on a hold for an indefinite period after the authorities of the university denied permission to hold the function on the lawns of the university, said Students’ Union president Ramya Ranjan Behera.
Talking to newsmen, Behera said, “We have postponed the function, which was scheduled to be held today on the lawns of the campus, after the authorities of the uinversity did not allow us to hold the programme on the lawns.”
“The next date for the annual function will be finalised after a meeting of the students’ Union,” Behera added.
Earlier in the day, tension prevailed on the premises of Ravenshaw University over the selection of venue for the annual function of the University Students’ Union which was scheduled to be held at the lawn of the University this evening.
While the Vice-Chancellor of the uinversity Prakash Chandra Sarangi had asked the students not to organise the annual function on the lawns, the members of the union had stuck to their decision and had even constructed a pandal for the annual celebration. Thew VC had made it clear that neither he nor any staff would attend the function.
“Neither they have asked permission to organise the programme on the lawn, nor we have given them. If they will organise the function there, no officials of the university will attend the programme,” the Vice Chancellor had said.
“We have issued show cause notice to them and necessary actions will be taken against them for unauthorized construction on the premises of the university,” Sarangi added.
“Students' Union Function is a prestigious function as ministers and MLAs will attend the function. We have given them choices of three venues- Amphitheatre, Open Air Pandal and Ravenshaw Ground - to organise the programme. But they want to organise it on the lawns where security breaches may happen. So we have informed the police about the incident to avoid any untoward incident,” Sarangi informed.
However, the president of the Students’ Union Ramya Ranjan Behera, said, “Earlier, many programmes were organised on the lawns of the university. It is the lawn of the students. So there is no problem in organising the function here.”
“I have sent a letter to registrar of the varsity asking for permission for organising the programme on the lawns but have not received any reply yet. I want to hold the function on the lawns so that everyone can enjoy it,” Behera added.
When asked about the VC will be attendinh the programme or not, Behera said, “It is a function of students. If students of the varisty enjoy the function, then there should not be any issues.”
Meanwhile, the VC has requested the ministers and MLAs to not to attend the function over security issues.
Notably, Higher Education minister Pradip Panigrahi, School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Law minister Arun Sahoo, Member of Parliament Bhartruhari Mahtab and two MLAs of the city - Prabhat Ranjan Biswal and Debashish Samantaray = were scheduled to attend the Students’ Union function.