The State Higher Education Department on Tuesday issued a notification to cancel the admission of the students. The Deputy Director of the department has also written a letter in this regard to the General Manager of Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC).
“I am directed to inform you for cancelling the admission of 28 students of Bhadrak Autonomous College, Bhadrak, who had taken admission by producing fake PwD certificates at the time of admission for the sessions 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22,” the letter read.
The department further directed the OCAC to cancel the admission of those students and update the same in SAMS portal.
As per the notification, admission of as many as two students from Arts stream for 2019-20 academic year has been cancelled. Similarly, admission of nine students from Arts and Science stream for 2020-21 academic year has also been scrapped. This apart, the department has annulled the admission of as many as 17 students from Arts, Commerce and Science streams for the current academic year.
The Higher Education Department has also sent the names of the 28 students to OCAC for necessary action apart from informing about the development to the principal of Bhadrak Autonomous College.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
The cut off list was released on the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) website for admissions for the academic year 2021 - 2022. As many as 2,44,252 students had applied for the Plus-3 admission out of which 1,68,537 students have been selected in the first round for admissions.
The admissions will be conducted between Sept 13 to 16 (5 PM), as per the timeline issued by the State Higher Education Department. As per the first cut-off list, Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Autonomous College (BJB College) in Bhubaneswar has emerged as the most preferred institution with highest cut-offs in almost all streams and subjects.
Meanwhile, the admitted students can update the slide-up option for 'First Round of Admission' from September 13 to 16 (11.45 PM) online. Moreover, the respective institutions can update data of admitted students including error reporting in the e-space (for First Round admission) from September 13 to 16 (7 PM).
Notably, some colleges under the Higher Education Department have not submitted their UC since 2003-04.
In a letter to the concerned colleges, the department has asked them to ensure the submission of UC to the Additional Secretary, Higher Education Department.
The department said that UC of over Rs 1000 crore is pending since 2003-04.
“Utilisation Certificates for more than Rs.1000.00 crores pertaining to various schemes of Higher Education Department ranging from 2003-04 till 2020-21 are pending for submission to AG,” the letter read.
Financial concurrence for sanction of further grants shall not be accorded in case of failure in submission of UC, it stated further.
In the letter, Principal Secretary to Higher Education Department Saswat Mishra termed it as ‘very alarming’ and directed authorities of all government and non-government colleges to ensure the same in the prescribed format at the earliest.
According to the notification issued by the Higher Education Department, candidates whose final U.G. results are awaited (not published) can also apply for the CPET-2021. However, they have to upload their marks prior to preparation of subject-wise and state-wide provisional rank within the dateline, failing which their applications will not be considered.
The online application process for the students will commence on August 2. Online Common Application Form (CAF) will be made available on the website www.samsodisha.gov.in from 11 am on August 2. The last date for submission of the application is August 14.
Candidates can download hall ticket for the entrance test from August 20. The entrance examination will be conducted from August 23 to September 3 except on August 27 and 29.
The subject-wise and state-wide merit list of students will be published on October 12 while choice filling by eligible applicants will be held from October 12 to 17.
The data regarding provisional allotment of seats for first and second round selection will be published on October 22 and November 4, respectively while the provisional list of vacant seats will be published on the SAMS website on November 12.
The department has reportedly issued the show cause notices to Principals of Government Degree College in Bolangir, Government Women's Degree College in Bolangir, BB Sanskrit College in Bolangir, Model Degree College in Rayagada and Model Degree College in Nabarangpur seeking an explanation within seven days, the reason for their absence at the conference.
It is worthwhile to mention here that, Odisha Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo had convened a brainstorming session with department officials and Principals of 52 government colleges on June 29 in Bhubaneswar with an aim to strengthen higher education system in the State.
During the crucial meeting, it was decided that all the lecturers in the government colleges will have extended working hours beyond the UGC guidelines of 5 hours a day. Besides, it was decided that the colleges will record their attendance with the help of biometrics technology.
The meeting had also discussed how a uniform syllabus can be introduced for all the government Plus III Colleges.
Significantly, the State Higher Education Department on Friday decided to cancel Students' elections in all colleges and Universities under its administrative jurisdiction for the current academic year. And curiously, the notification proposes elections to students’ bodies via nominations.
In fact, the Lyngdoh Commission on Student Polls, vetted by Apex court, has termed the non-holding of student elections in campuses as violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. The Commission batted for cancellation of student polls, provided the atmosphere of the campus is vitiated by violence. And the Supreme Court has concurred with the recommendations.
In Odisha's case, the State Higher Education department didn't cite the reason of violence for the cancellation order. It speaks of only about the 'larger interests' of the student community. And, therefore, has proposed nomination to student bodies vis-a-vis elections.
Interestingly, the Lyngdoh Commission has very strongly advocated for gradual abolition of nomination to student bodies in campuses. It unambiguously has batted for regular conduct of elections to the student bodies every academic year, except in exceptional circumstances. The Commission has very crystal clearly stated that 'nominations' to student bodies should be a temporary measure in such exceptional cases.
However, there seems no such exceptional scenario prevailing at present in the State's campus atmosphere for the blanket cancellation.
Political observers, however, decode the 'larger interests' clause in the notification as the 'larger political interests' of the ruling BJD.
In fact, the campus gossip is post the abrogation of Article 370 by Modi Government, the atmosphere prevailing in the campus over nationalism poses a grave risk for BJD youth wings, if elections were held in the current ambience.
Alerted, the Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo, a former student leader himself and who very well knows the nuts & bolts of student politics, then has prodded the Department to invoke such a 'hasty judgement'.
While Lyngdoh Commission calls for no intervention by political parties in student polls, this hardly has been a reality in the country, including Odisha. Lyngdoh, however, has batted for student polls on issues (micro to macro) and, of course, on ideologies. But the waters in campuses across the country are muddied by political one-upmanship.
Sample this fact. A strange coincidence observed in Odisha is the Higher Education Minister has been one, who had been a big student leader in his heydays. From Devi Mishra (2009) to Pradeep Panigrahi (2014) and Arun Sahoo (2019), all State higher education ministers were once big student leaders of the then JD/BJD.
As per reports, the varsity authorities had proposed the State Higher Education department of the State to provide land for establishing a second campus for relocating its junior college to a new place. Subsequently, the government had identified the land but the authorities of the varsity repeatedly denied accepting the plots.
Following the development, the Higher Education department has now sent a letter to the registrar of the Varsity seeking a detailed report on the use of the existing campus.
The Higher Education department has clarified in the letter that it will initiate the process of identifying the land for second campus only after it receives the land use plan of the existing campus.
It is pertinent to mention that in August 2019, the vice-chancellor of Rama Devi Women’s University Padmaja Mishra had stated that the Junior College will be shifted to Unit IX Girls High School premises in Bhubaneswar and three-acre land was identified for the purpose.
VSSUT has recently issued a notice asking students, who are supposed to appear their end term semester exams next month, to arrive at the university from June 18 to 20.
The notice also has it mentioned that the students can quarantine themselves in the hostels till the end of their examinations. Besides, the varsity authority has asked parents to submit undertaking related to the same.
The decision of VSSUT has not gone down well with the students and also parents as the protest has taken the internet by storm with demands and postponement of the exams for the time being.
"As the month of June is crucial in view of the rising cases of COVID-19, schools and colleges are shut, hence, I can't submit an undertaking for my ward. If you (VSSUT authority) takes the responsibility of the safety of my child, conduct the exam," said a parent.
While people still fear about staying in quarantine, how students can stay in quarantine at the varsity hostel, questioned another parent asking if the university will take responsibility in case anything happens to her child.
Besides, students of Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) are also not happy with the institution's decision to hold the final semester exams in June-July.
Similarly, students of Ramadevi Women's University have also demanded to defer the exam scheduled to be held towards the end of this month.
"We are going through mental harassment due to the decision of conducting the exams in these times," said an engineering student of BPUT.
Universities should go for an alternative instead of conducting the exam as saving every single life is more important now, said another student of RD University.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Department has said that the decision regarding the conduct of examinations will be taken in the next couple of days.
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Edited By Suryakant Jena
According to sources, the decision was taken after the meeting which was reportedly chaired by Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo. Vice-chancellors, controllers of examinations of state public universities, principals of autonomous and degree colleges also reportedly attended the meeting through video conferencing.
The exams will be conducted as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in online, offline, open book and other prescribed modes.
However, the concerned university and colleges will take the final call on the mode of examination, an official release read.
Meanwhile, the results of all the examinations will be published by October 31.
"Those who won't or can't appear for the exams can appear for the same after the COVID-19 situation improves. Universities/colleges will make special arrangements for those students to appear for the exam in pen & paper mode," the release read.
The final semester students can also appear for their back papers, if any, and the results of those exams will also be published by October 31.
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According to sources, while some colleges and universities are conducting the exams online, some are conducting it through offline mode.
In view of the pandemic, all necessary arrangements have been made at campuses so that the examination can be done following all COVID-19 guidelines.
Earlier on September 2, Odisha Higher Education Department had released guidelines for the conduct of the final semester exams for UG and PG courses in the State.
Final Semester/Year UG and PG Examinations:
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The total vacant seats will be notified on the official website from November 9, and colleges have been asked to make dropbox facility for submission of applications from November 10 to 13.
The list of the selected students will be out on November 17.
Check Important Details
Following categories of applicants/students with barcode number (starting from 20D ) can apply for spot admission.
Read More: Plus 3 Admission ‘Irregularities’ In Odisha College, Probe Begins
Three separate notifications have been issued by the State government for the appointment of VCs who are expected to be academicians of repute with adequate administrative experience.
According to the notification, the applicant should be a distinguished academician of proven academic and administrative excellence and a well-rounded personality with a minimum of 10 years of experience as Professor in a University system or 10 years in an equivalent position in reputed research and/or academic organisation.
The post carries a pay of Rs. 2, 10,000/- (Rupees two lakhs and ten thousand) with Special Allowance of Rs. 5000/- per month and other usual allowances. The tenure of the Vice-Chancellor will be four years from the date he/she assumes office or till he/she attains 67 years of age; whichever is earlier.
The applicants are required to apply in the prescribed application proforma through e-mail attachment to hedsec.od@nic.in.Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview (to be held in Bhubaneswar in physical mode) by a three-member Search Committee.
After interview, the Committee will recommend names of three candidates for each university to the Chancellor (Governor of Odisha) who will select one of them for appointment as Vice-Chancellor.
It is reminded here that Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal on Monday appointed new vice-chancellors for six universities in the State.
Aparajita Chowdhury has been appointed as new VC of Ramadevi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar while Sabita Acharya will look after the Utkal University. Similarly, Dinabandhu Sahoo has been posted as the new VC of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)