Establishment of Odisha State Higher Education Council and Its composition.

(1) There shall be established a Council by the name “the Odisha State Higher Education Council” to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act. (2) The Council shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a commonseal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall sue and be sued by the said name. (3) The headquarters of the Council shall be at Bhubaneswar. (4) The Council shall consist of the following members, namely:— (a) a Chairperson, who is the Minister in charge of Higher Education; (b) a Vice-Chairperson, who is or has been an Administrator with proven academic record and in the rank of a Professor and shall be appointed by the Government in the manner provided in sub-section (5); (c) fifteen other members, out of whom three shall be Vice-Chancellors of different Universities of the State to be nominated by the Government, two Principals of Autonomous Colleges to be nominated by the Government, one nominee of the Government of India, two eminent scientists or experts in Social Science and seven persons who have special knowledge in the field of arts, science and technology, culture; civil society or industry and are persons of eminence, ability and integrity to be nominated by the Government; and (d) a Member-Secretary. Selection of Member Secretary and Vice-Chairperson shall be done through a Search Committee to be appointed by the Government for the purpose. A Search Committee referred to in sub-section (5) shall consist of three members with the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary as the Chairperson, a retired Vice-Chancellor or a retired Chief Secretary as member and Secretary in charge of Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha as member convener.