Bid to gain stamp of legitimacy for Ravenshaw misdeeds

SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2011 00:05

PNS | BHUBANESWAR

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http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/19814-bid-to-gain-stamp-of-legitimacy-for-ravenshaw-misdeeds.html

The Ravenshaw University in Cuttack is currently witnessing a series of VIP footfalls even as its first Vice-Chancellor Devdas Chhotray, who faces a plethora of allegations for his controversial decisions and shifting focus from academic issues, is counting his days to retire on November 24.

Chhotray, who has since been calling himself as the "lame-duck V-," has been inviting prominent personalities to the campus to what his critics say "to legitimise the questionable deeds he has done vitiating the academic atmosphere in the university." According to sources, Chhotray, who is retiring at attaining the age of 65, is interested for extension of his term in view of certain quarters carrying on a campaign for cancellation of the recent decision of the Search Committee on a new Vice-Chancellor. The committee, as per the procedure, selected a panel of three names out of about 100 candidates, which is now with the Chancellor (State Governor) for choosing one after an interaction with them by the end of this month.

Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra, who is known as the principal political adviser of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was invited to the campus to inaugurate the Ravenshaw Amphitheatre on Friday. Chhotray sought to impress Mohapatra about what he has done during his tenure as the V-C. The outgoing V-C has also invited Chief Minister Patnaik to lay the foundation-stone of a girls' hostel in the campus on Saturday. This programme was only known to the university staff on Friday. It may be recalled that Chhotray had earlier faced a lot of criticism for the alleged misuse of the existing heritage East and West Hostels of the university.

The V-C is also trying to invite the State Governor and university Chancellor MC Bhandare later this month, before his retirement, to attend some programmes.