Latest news with #UtkalUniversity
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Orissa HC disposes of PIL after govt cancels appointment of Utkal's in-charge V-C
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of Prof Jagneshwar Dandapat as the in-charge vice-chancellor (V-C) of Utkal University, following the state government's decision to cancel the appointment. Filed by high court lawyer and alumnus of Utkal University Prabir Kumar Das, the PIL had questioned the legality of the May 27 appointment, citing non-compliance with Section 6(10) of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989. Das contended that the procedure for appointing an acting V-C had not been followed. When the matter was taken up by the division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MR Pathak, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya informed the court that the Chancellor of the university - the Governor of Odisha - had on July 22 issued an order cancelling the appointment of Prof Dandapat, a senior professor from the Biotechnology department. Acharya submitted that the cancellation was in line with the law and further stated that the state cabinet had cleared a proposal to amend the relevant provisions of the Odisha Universities Act through an ordinance. The proposed amendment, aimed at ensuring smoother university administration, would allow for the appointment of any qualified individual - not just sitting V-Cs - to the position of acting V-C, addressing the challenges of one person managing two universities simultaneously.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt cancels Utkal University in-charge VC's appointment
1 2 Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: The state govt has cancelled appointment of Jagneshwar Dandapat as in-charge vice-chancellor of Utkal University, the govt informed the Orissa high court on Wednesday. The appointment was challenged citing violation of Odisha Universities Amendment Act, 2024. The office of the chancellor of state public universities has also issued a notification regarding the cancellation of Dandapat's appointment, a senior faculty member from the university's biotechnology department. He was appointed in-charge VC on May 27 this year after Sabita Acharya's extended tenure as VC ended on May 23. However, on June 3, high court lawyer and university alumnus Prabir Kumar Das filed a public interest litigation (PIL), alleging that the appointment violated Section 6(10) of the Act. The section lays down the procedure for appointing an acting VC. A recent amendment to the Act, notified on April 17, 2025, permits the chancellor (Governor of Odisha), in consultation with the state govt, to appoint a sitting VC of any public university in the state for a maximum period of one year as an interim arrangement. The Orissa high court on Wednesday disposed of the PIL challenging the appointment of Dandapat as in-charge VC of Utkal University after the state govt informed that the appointment was cancelled. The division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M R Pathak closed the matter after advocate general Pitambar Acharya produced a copy of the chancellor's order issued on July 22 cancelling Dandapat's appointment. Acharya told the court that it was not administratively feasible for one person to function as VC for two universities. To address this issue, he said, the state cabinet approved an ordinance to further amend the Act to allow the appointment of any qualified person — not necessarily a sitting VC — as interim head. Taking note of the submission, the bench observed that since the appointment in question was already been cancelled, there was no need for further adjudication. However, it emphasised that all future appointments must strictly adhere to legal provisions. On the proposed ordinance, the court said the matter fell within the legislative domain of the state govt. With the cancellation of Dandapat's appointment, Utkal University, Odisha's premier and oldest university, continues to await a new VC. Meanwhile, the govt has started the VC recruitment process for 13 state public universities. "Without VC, a university cannot function smoothly. For every decision, we need to consult the VC and take his/her approval for the university and constituent college's works. We do not know how to manage the works until a VC is appointed," said a professor of the university.
News18
17-07-2025
- General
- News18
'Sanskrit Going Extinct, Only Census Can Save It!': Truth Behind Viral Claim
Last Updated: Social media warns Sanskrit faces extinction without census support. But with ongoing use in rituals and education, the language remains alive and actively preserved A message circulating on social media warns of the possible extinction of the Sanskrit language, urging citizens to declare Sanskrit as their first language in the upcoming national census. The claim suggests that failure to do so may result in Sanskrit being labelled as 'extinct', which could subsequently lead to the withdrawal of government grants, educational assistance, and preservation efforts. While it is accurate that Sanskrit is spoken by a relatively small number of people today, this limited usage does not imply the language is extinct. The Census Push Social media posts claim that the census will be concluded by March 2027, and encourage people to select 'Sanskrit' when asked about their mother tongue and languages known. Although Sanskrit is not widely spoken in everyday conversation, it is still regularly used in daily worship, chanting, the recitation of shlokas, and during religious rituals. According to the 2011 Census of India, 24,821 people reported Sanskrit as their first language, a significant rise from 14,135 in the 2001 census. In certain villages such as Dimmar in Uttarakhand, Mattur in Karnataka, and Jhiri in Madhya Pradesh, Sanskrit remains in active daily use. Sanskrit, regarded as India's oldest and original language, holds deep cultural and religious significance. Various efforts continue to support its preservation. Numerous universities across India and abroad offer courses in Sanskrit, and some Indian states include the language as a compulsory or optional subject in schools. Educational institutions like Utkal University and the National Sanskrit University are dedicated to the teaching and research of Sanskrit. Furthermore, government bodies, including the Ministry of Education, have specific budget allocations for Sanskrit's promotion, and separate grants are provided to institutions engaged in its study and preservation. Census And Language Policy: Understanding The Link The census is a key instrument in collecting data related to population, socio-economic indicators, education levels, and languages spoken. This information assists in the creation of government policies and development plans. Data concerning the number of speakers of a language can help indicate whether targeted support or special schemes are necessary for its preservation. However, government grants and support for a language are not determined solely by the number of speakers. Factors such as a language's historical, cultural, and constitutional status also play a significant role. Sanskrit, for instance, is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which formally recognises its official importance. What Constitutes Language Extinction? A Closer Look The decision to classify a language as 'extinct' is not made lightly. It involves defined criteria established by international organisations such as UNESCO. A language is considered extinct when no person speaks it as their mother tongue and no younger generation is learning it. While several Indian languages are indeed endangered and at risk of extinction, the suggestion that Sanskrit will lose government support unless listed as a first language in the census is inaccurate and overstated. Sanskrit's Enduring Significance And Future Outlook Despite a decline in its everyday use, Sanskrit continues to be preserved through religious, educational, and scholarly practices. The language's historical, cultural, and religious value ensures that it remains eligible for ongoing government and institutional support, backed by dedicated budget allocations and national recognition. In conclusion, while raising awareness about Sanskrit's role and encouraging its learning is important, the claim that it faces extinction or funding loss unless declared as a first language in the census lacks factual basis. The language remains a living cultural treasure, supported by a broad network of public and academic institutions. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 17, 2025, 10:17 IST News explainers 'Sanskrit Going Extinct, Only Census Can Save It!': Truth Behind Viral Claim | Fact Check Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha High Court tells state govt to speed up regular V-C appointment in public universities
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday scheduled July 23 for further hearing on the PIL alleging violation of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989, in appointing a university faculty member as acting vice-chancellor of Utkal University. High Court lawyer and Utkal University alumnus Prabir Kumar Das filed the PIL which specifically challenged the Chancellor's notification dated May 27, 2025, designating Professor Jagneshwar Dandapat, as in-charge V-C until a regular appointment is made. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MS Raman focused on Section 6(10) of the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024 - notified on April 17, 2025 - which now permits the Chancellor, in consultation with the state government, to appoint any vice-chancellor of a public university in the state as acting V-C, instead of restricting the choice to V-Cs from neighbouring universities. The bench noted that the recent amendment sets a maximum period of one year (including extensions) for such interim arrangements. It also took note of a recent Supreme Court directive to expedite permanent V-C appointments, with the state already initiating the process. Appreciating the state's intent to rectify the issue, the court underscored the need to strictly adhere to the statutory provisions. Advocate general Pitambar Acharya assured the bench that he would personally review the matter to ensure compliance with the law. The court has directed the state to take appropriate corrective steps before then. On June 24, the court had observed that Section 6(8) of the Act allows the Chancellor to extend the outgoing V-C's term for up to six months, but the current notification failed to meet this criterion. 'Prime facie, the issue raised needs to be determined finally, as this may become a recurring feature in other universities as well,' the bench remarked. Utkal University has been operating without a regular vice-chancellor since November 24, 2024, following the expiry of the previous incumbent's term.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC raises concerns over delay in appointing permanent VC of Utkal varsity
Cuttack: Orissa high court has raised concerns over the delay in appointing a permanent vice-chancellor (VC) for Utkal University and questioned the legality of the interim appointment made by the chancellor, governor Hari Babu Kambhampati. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The post has remained vacant since Nov 24, 2024, following the end of the previous VC's term. On May 27, 2025, the chancellor appointed Jagneshwar Dandapat, a senior professor at the university's biotechnology department, as the in-charge VC. However, a PIL filed by high court lawyer and Utkal University alumnus Prabir Kumar Das challenged the appointment, alleging a violation of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989. The petition contended that the notification did not comply with the provisions of Section 6(10) of the Act which outlines the procedure for appointing an acting VC. Taking note of the issue, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman, observed on July 8 that the recent amendment to the Act, notified on April 17, 2025, allows the chancellor, in consultation with the state govt, to appoint any sitting VC of a public university in Odisha as a stopgap arrangement, with a maximum term of one year. The state govt informed the court that following a Supreme Court directive, the process for appointing permanent VCs across universities has already begun and will be completed shortly. While appreciating the state's response, the court stressed that 'the provisions of the law must be respected and followed in letter and spirit'. Advocate general Pitambar Acharya assured the bench that he would personally look into the matter and take corrective measures if any violation is found. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on July 23, directing the state to take 'appropriate steps' by then.
