OUAT VC Surendra Nath Pasupalak resigns before retirement

Bhubaneswar: Just days before his retirement, Vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Surendra Nath Pasupalak, today resigned from his post and the government job. Pasupalak sent his resignation letter to Chancellor of Universities & Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal through post.

Governor Ganeshi Lal had reportedly directed to conduct a Vigilance inquiry into allegations brought against the Vice-chancellor by the former assistant registrar of the varsity, Pramod Kumar Jena. The Ex-Assistant Registrar had brought corruption charges against the VC in recruitment and manipulation of records of the university for his personal benefits and also accused him of misusing his position.

Besides the inquiry, the Governor had also asked the Chief Secretary to submit the inquiry report within six weeks.

Following this, the vice-chancellor was sent on leave last month on 26th after Vigilance department initiated a probe against him. Such a decision was taken to ensure transparency in the inquiry being conducted against Pasupalak, official sources had claimed.

However, two days later at a presser, the vice-chancellor, refuting all allegations of irregularities against him, charged the Governor’s Secretariat of taking action against him even before an inquiry.

Pasupalak then had alleged that action was taken even after providing supporting documents. “Action was taken based on the allegations of an unethical person with malicious intent,” he asserted.

As per sources, Agriculture department secretary, Saurabh Garg has been posted as the vice-chancellor in-charge of OUAT.