Tension in Ravenshaw over venue for Students’ Union function

Cuttack: Tension prevailed in the premises of Ravenshaw University on Monday over the selection of the venue for the annual function of the University Students’ Union scheduled to be held at the lawn of the University in the evening today.

While the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the varsity Prakash Chandra Sarangi has asked the students not to organise the annual function on the lawns, students' union leaders have stuck to their decision and constructed a pandal for the annual celebration.

According to sources, the VC has expressed displeasure over the decision of the students in no uncertain terms and has made it amply clear that neither he nor any university staff will attend the function.

Prakash Chandra Sarangi, Vice-Chancellor of Ravenshaw University, said “Neither they have asked for permission to organise the programme on the lawns, nor have we given permission. If they organise the function there, no official of the university will attend the programme.”

“We have issued show cause notice to them and necessary action will be taken against them for unauthorized construction on premises of the university,” Sarangi added.

“Students Union function is a prestigious function as ministers, MPs and MLAs will attend it. We have given three choices for the venue - Amphitheater, 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 development to avoid any untoward incident,” Sarangi informed.

When contacted, president of the Students’ Union Ramya Ranjan Behera, he said, “Earlier too, many programmes have been 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 the registrar of the university seeking permission for organising the programme on the lawns. But I have not received any reply yet. I want to hold the function on the lawn so that everyone can enjoy it,” Behera added.

When asked if the VC will be attending the programme, Behera said, “It is a function of students. If students of the university enjoy the function then there are no issues.”

Meanwhile, the VC has requested the ministers, MP and MLAs 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 are scheduled to attend the Students’ Union function.