The Vice-Chancellor

(1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be a whole-time officer of the University and shall be appointed by the Chancellor from a panel of three names recommended by a Committee consisting of seven persons of whom, one shall be nominated by the Chancellor, one by the Board, one by the University Grants Commission, and the remaining four members shall be nominated by the Government and the Chancellor shall appoint one of the four members so nominated by the Government to be the Chairman of the Committee:

Provided that the first Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the Government for a term not exceeding two years.

(2) The Committee shall forward to the Chancellor the panel of three names prepared by it, having regards to norms and guidelines, if any, issued by the University Grants Commission, from time to time, together with a concise statement showing the academic qualifications and other distinctions of each of the persons included in such panel, but shall not indicate any order of preference and if the Chancellor is of the opinion that none of the three persons out of the said panel is suitable for appointment as Vice-Chancellor, he may direct the Government to constitute another Committee to give a fresh panel of three names and shall appoint one of the persons named in fresh panel as the Vice-Chancellor.

(3) Wherever a vacancy occurs or is likely to occur in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, the Committee constituted under sub-section (1) shall, as far as may be, at least sixty days before the date on which a vacancy in the office is due to occur, prepare a panel of three names, who are in its opinion, suitable to hold the said office.

(4) No person who has completed sixty-five years of age shall be eligible to hold the office of the Vice-Chancellor.

(5) No person shall be eligible to be a member of the Committee, if he is,— (a) a member of any of the authorities of the University, or (b) an employee of the University, or (c) an employee of any college or institution maintained or recognized by or affiliated to any other University in the State of Odisha.

(6) The business of the Committee shall be conducted in such manner as may be determined, from time to time, by the Chancellor in that behalf.

(7) The term of office of the Vice-Chancellor shall be three years from the date he assumes office as such and any person holding such office shall subject to provision of sub-section(1), also be eligible for reappointment: Provided that no person shall be appointed as Vice-Chancellor for more than two terms.

(8) The Chancellor may extend, from time to time, the term of office of the Vice-Chancellor for a total period not exceeding six months without following the procedure laid down in sub-section (1).

(9) In case the office of the Vice-Chancellor falls vacant due to the absence of the Vice-Chancellor on leave, the Chancellor shall appoint a person on such terms and conditions as he deems necessary to act as the Vice-Chancellor and such person shall be entitled to all emoluments attached to the office.

(10) In case the office of the Vice-Chancellor falls vacant due to death, resignation or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled up in the manner specified in sub-section (1) and the person appointed to fill up such vacancy shall be eligible for re-appointment in accordance with the provisions contained in sub-section (7): Provided that where it is not reasonably practicable to fill up the vacancy in the manner aforesaid immediately after it occurs, the Chancellor may appoint a person to act as the Vice-Chancellor for such period, not exceeding six months, as he may fix and the person so appointed shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Vice-Chancellor and shall be entitled to all emoluments attached to the office.

(11) The Executive Authority of the University shall vest in the Vice-Chancellor.

(12) The Vice-Chancellor of the University shall, when present, preside over the meetings of the Board and the Academic Council or in every meeting of any other authority of which he is a member and, in the absence of the Chancellor, shall also preside over the Convocations of the University.

(13) The salary, allowances and other conditions of service of the Vice-Chancellor shall be such as may be prescribed.

(14) Subject to availability of funds in the budget, the Vice-Chancellor shall have power to sanction, after obtaining the opinion of the Comptroller of Finance, expenditure up to such sum as may be prescribed during the course of a financial year and shall make a report of all such expenditure to the Board at the earliest opportunity: Provided that it shall be competent for the Vice-Chancellor to differ from the opinion of the Comptroller of Finance, if he deems it so fit, after recording his reasons therefor.

(15) If the Vice-Chancellor is of the opinion that any order or decision in respect of any matter, which is required under the provisions of this Act or the Statutes to be passed or made by any authority of the University, is necessary to be passed or made immediately and it is not practicable to convene a meeting of the concerned authority for that purpose, he may pass such order or take such decision, as deems proper and place the same before the concerned authority at its next meeting for ratification, and where the authority differs from the Vice-Chancellor, the matter shall be referred to the Chancellor, whose decision thereon shall be final: Provided that if the matter involves any financial transaction, the Vice-Chancellor shall, before passing such order or taking such decision, obtain the opinion of the Comptroller of Finance, but the (16) The Vice-Chancellor shall review the performance of teachers and officers of the University annually and submit a report thereon to the Chancellor in the manner prescribed. (17) The Vice-Chancellor shall have the power— (a) to require the teachers of the University to report him all academic aspects including the conduct of examination; and (b) to give such directions to the Officers-in-Charge of such examinations, as he deems necessary, in consultation with the Controller of Examination.