Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024

1. (1) This Act may be called the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024.
2. (2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Odisha Gazette.

In the Odisha Universities Act, 1989 (hereinafter referred as the Principal Act), in Section 2,-

1. (a) clause (d-1) shall be omitted;
2. (b) for clause (f), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:- “(f) ‘Director’ means the Director of Higher Education, Odisha or his representative”;
3. (c) after clause (f), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-

“(f-1) “distance education system” means the system of imparting education

through any means of communication, such as broadcasting, telecasting, internet, correspondence courses, seminars, contact programmes or the combination of any two or more such means” Amendment to Section 2.

1. (d) after clause (g), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:–
   • (i) “(g-1)“NAAC” means National Assessment and Accreditation Council”;
   • (ii) “(g-2) “NBA” means National Board of Accreditation”; and
   • (iii) “(g-3) “NIRF” means the National Institutional Ranking Framework”.
2. (e) after clause (k), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- “(k-1) “related to” means any blood relation or marriage relation or adoption relations or business partner or associate relations between the Selection Committee member and the candidate for the post of teacher or any other academic post.”;
3. (f) after clause (l), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:─
   • (i) “(l-1) “Senate” means the senate of the University as constituted under section 9 of the Act”; and
   • (ii) “(ll-2) “Schedule” means a schedule appended to this Act.”

In the Principal Act, in Section 3,─

1. (a) in sub-section (2), after the words “members of the”, the word “Senate,” shall be inserted;
2. (b) in sub-section (5), after clause (f), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:– “(g)In addition to the above, the Universities should also do the following:─
   • (i) to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, and generally to cultivate and promote the arts (including fine arts and performing arts), humanities, social sciences, accounts and commerce, pure and applied sciences, present and emerging technologies, managements, different forms of medicine, engineering, law, physical education and other branches of learning and culture and their multi- disciplinary and inter-disciplinary areas;
   • (ii) to make provisions to enable conducted and affiliated or constituent colleges and recognised institutions to undertake specialised studies;
   • (iii) to make provisions for creation of autonomous, empowered autonomous and empowered autonomous cluster of institutions;
   • (iv) to organise, maintain and manage university departments, schools, institutions, laboratories, learning resource centres, libraries, museums and equipment for teaching, learning, training, research and development or extension;
   • (v) to establish, maintain and manage departments, institutions of research, institutions of specialised studies or academic services unit;
   • (vi) to establish, maintain and manage constituent, community and conducted colleges, institutions, hostels, health centres, auditoria and gymnasiums;
   • (vii) to provide for establishment, on the university campus and Sub- Campuses, of autonomous institutions like multi-university and inter- university centres, research laboratories, modern instrumentation centres and like centres of learning, set-up by the University Grants Commission
3. (UGC) , the Central Government or the State Government, teaching or learning or training colleges or institutions at local, regional, national and global level, which may be used by the university or college or group of universities or colleges: Provided that, in the case of any industry or any non-Government organization availing themselves of such facility of a university or such organizations providing the facility to a university, prior approval of the State Government shall be obtained by the university concerned;
   • (viii) to provide for establishment of sub-campuses for serving a group of colleges, and also to provide for and maintain common resource centres in such sub-campuses in the form of post-graduate departments, multi- disciplinary or inter-disciplinary schools, libraries, laboratories, computer centres and the like centres of learning and skills training, as per the guidelines laid down by the State Government or by the University Grants Commission (UGC);
   • (ix) to appoint or recognise persons working in any other university or organisation as adjunct professors, adjunct associate professors, adjunct assistant professors, visiting professors of the university for specified periods;
   • (x) to prescribe the courses of instruction and studies for the various examinations leading to specific degrees and diplomas or certificates;
   • (xi) to make provision, wherever feasible, in the university departments, colleges, institutions, recognised institutions and schools, for survey and collection of statistics, data and other particulars relevant to various developmental activities including State and National plans, evaluation of the developmental schemes with the participation of the students as a part of their curricular activities;
   • (xii) to institute degrees and post-graduate diplomas and post- highersecondary diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on the basis of examinations or by other tests;
   • (xii) to hold examinations or evaluations and confer degrees and post- graduate diplomas and award post-higher secondary diplomas and certificates and other academic distinctions on persons who, —
4. (a) unless exempted therefrom in the manner prescribed, have pursued approved courses of study in the university, or in a college or in an institution or a recognised institution or a school and have passed the examinations and earned the required credits or marks or grades prescribed by the university; or
5. (b) have pursued approved courses of study in the university, or in a college or in an institution or a recognised institution or in an autonomous college or an autonomous recognised institution or in empowered autonomous college or empowered autonomous cluster institutions or a school and have passed the examinations and earned the required credits or marks or grades prescribed by the university; or
6. (c) have engaged in research under conditions provided by Ordinances and Regulations;
   • (xiv) to confer and award such degrees, diplomas and certificates to, and provide for such lectures, instruction and training for external students, and the students under correspondence and distance education, online and continuing education courses;
   • (xv) to confer honorary degrees or other academic distinctions as prescribed by the Statutes in consultation with the State Government;
   • (xvi) to monitor and evaluate the academic performance of university departments, university institutions, conducted colleges and of affiliated/constituent colleges, autonomous or empowered colleges in a stand-alone or cluster form and recognised institutions for affiliation or recognition, as the case may be, for periodical State, National and World accreditations/ rankings;
   • (xvii) to inspect, where necessary, all types of colleges or institutions and recognised institutions through suitable machinery established for the purpose, and take measures to ensure that proper standards of instruction, teaching, learning, training and research, and extension are maintained by them and adequate library, class rooms, laboratory, hostel, workshop and other academic facilities are provided for; (xviii) to hold and to manage trusts and endowments and to institute and award fellowship, travelling fellowship, scholarship, studentship, medals and prizes for teachers and students of the university and colleges;
   • (xix) to supervise, control and regulate the conduct and discipline of the students of the university, colleges, institutions, recognised institutions, schools and hostels;
   • (xx) to provide for mobility of students from formal to non-formal stream and vice-versa, and also among the other universities in the State and outside the State;
7. (xxi) to make arrangements for promoting the healthy atmosphere, corporate life and welfare of the students of the university, colleges, schools and institutions;
8. (xxii) to co-ordinate and regulate teaching, learning, training and research and extension in the colleges and recognised institutions; (xxiii) to provide for periodical assessment of the performance of teachers and non-teaching employees in the colleges, institutions and university in accordance with the norms prescribed by the University Grants Commission
9. (UGC) or the State Government;
10. (xxiv) to regulate and provide for attendance of the teachers on the premises of the university or colleges or institutions during teaching hours and beyond teaching hours, as prescribed and to prohibit teachers from taking or conducting private tuitions or private coaching classes;
11. (xxv) to regulate and provide for attendance of the non-teaching employees on the premises of the university or colleges or institutions during working hours and beyond working hours, as prescribed;
12. (xxvi) to enforce conduct and discipline rules for teachers and non-teaching employees in a manner as prescribed;

1. (xxix) to make provision for participation of students with necessary incentives in, a.the national service scheme; b.the national cadet corps;

c. home guards and civil defence;

d.the national sports organisation; e.physical and military training; f.extra-mural teaching and research; g.programme related to Lifelong Learning and Extension; and h.any other programme, services or activities directed towards cultural, economic and social betterment as may be necessary and possible, to fulfil the objects of the university by the State Government or / and the Government of India.;

1. (xxx) to provide for special training or coaching for competitive examinations, for recruitment to the public services, public sector undertakings and other competitive employment opportunities;
2. (xxxi) to arrange periodical employment programme and to provide internship; (xxxii) to co-operate or collaborate with any other university, institution, authority or organisation for research and advisory services and for such purposes to enter into appropriate arrangement with other universities, institutions, authorities, or organisations to conduct certain courses as the situation may demand; (xxxiii) to recommend for rescinding or suspending affiliation or recognition or empowered status granted to colleges or institutions or cluster of institutions;

(xxxiv) to explore the possibilities of augmenting the resources of the university

by exploring or innovating activities such as research and development, consultancy, training programme and providing services for different clients from industry, trade or any other non-government organisations;

1. (xxxv) to undertake academic collaboration programme, research and advisory services with universities and institutions abroad, in a manner as prescribed. (xxxvi) to receive funds for collaborative programme from foreign agencies, subject to rules and regulations of the Central Government and the State Government in that behalf; (xxxvii) to create development corpus out of surplus that the university may generate through its teaching, learning, training, research, emerging technology, start up, innovations and development, consultancy and any other academic and support activities and to invest it in a professional manner and use the interest generated through it for the growth and development of academic, research and development, academic and physical infrastructure development and any other infrastructure; (xxxviii) to lay down for teachers and university teachers, such instructions or directions as, in the opinion of the university, may be necessary in academic matters; (xxxix) to undertake development programme in higher education, research, consultancy-based projects and training programme for outside agencies, by charging fees, so as to generate resources;

( XL) to make special provisions for the benefit of university education to be

made available to classes and communities which are socially and educationally backward;

1. (XLI) to make special provisions for such benefits of university education to be made available for women students and differently-abled students as the university may think necessary;
2. (XLII) to make special provisions for higher education in rural and tribal areas;

(XLIII) to take appropriate measures in order to increase the gross enrolment

ratio;

1. (XLIV) to implement the national literacy and adult education programme through teachers and students on voluntary basis in the university system and to evolve measures to give due weightage to the efforts and performance of the students in this area in addition to their normal academic performance and also to evaluate the performance of the teachers in this area;
2. (XLV) to promote by itself, or in co-operation with other universities or institutions , the study of Odia and the use of Odia as a medium of instruction, study, research and examination, in adherence to the policies of the State Government;
3. (XLVI) to promote by itself, or in co-operation with other universities or organisations, the study of regional, national and foreign languages in general and Asian languages in particular; (XLVII) to evolve an operational scheme for ensuring accountability of teachers, non-vocation academic and non-teaching staff of the university, institutions and colleges;

(XLVIII) to create knowledge and disseminate it and foster high quality research

which is contemporary, globally competitive and locally as well as regionally and nationally relevant;

1. (XLIX) to have a learner-centric approach and perform the role of being a knowledge creator;
2. (L) to strengthen education at under-graduate and post-graduate level, enhanceresearch develop culture and relevant degree programme and cultivate desire for entrepreneurship; ( LI) to create a comprehensive digital university framework for both, e- learning and e-administrative services;
3. (LII) to impart education under distance education system in accordance with Government of India, UGC and State Government regulations;

(LIII ) to exploit the power of ‘learning by collaboration’ and ‘participation’ with

use of information and communication technology;

1. (LIV) to cultivate research parks, technology incubators and other engagement entities to translate university research to commercial domain and coordinated projects involving multiple faculty groups from several disciplines that address some important issues before the State;
2. (LV) to identify skills to which students need to be exposed to, by taking into account the local needs, training facilities available, emerging needs and new employment opportunities;
3. (LVI) to provide an environment for the all-round development of youth by exposing them to the rich cultural heritage of the country and creating opportunities for development of skills in sports;
4. (LVII) to comply with and carry out any directives issued by the State Government, from time to time, with reference to above powers, duties and responsibilities of the university; (LVIII) to conduct academic audit of university departments, conducted colleges, affiliated/constituent colleges, institutions or schools, at regular intervals; and (LIX ) acquiring NAAC, NBA and NIRF ranking and other accreditations/ rankings by the University and its constituent colleges and affiliated colleges”
5. (c) after sub-sections (5), the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely:─ “(6) There shall be established, the Universities in the State as bodies corporate, by

such names and territorial jurisdiction, as specified in the Schedule to this Act.

1. (7) The first Vice-Chancellor, the first Registrar, the first Comptroller of Finance and the first Controller of Examination, the Syndicate and the Academic Council of each University and all persons who may hereafter become such officers or members, so long as they continue to hold such office or membership, are hereby constituted a body corporate by the name of the University.
2. (8) The headquarters of each of the University, referred to in sub-section (4), shall be such as may be specified by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette.”

In the Principal Act, in Section 4, for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─ “(3) the following shall be the authorities of the University, namely:─

1. (i) the senate;
2. (ii) the Syndicate;
3. (iii) the Academic Council;
4. (iv) the Finance Committee;
5. (v) Building and works Committee; and
6. (vi) such other authorities as may be declared by the statute to be the Authorities of the University.”

In the principal Act, in Section 5,─

1. (a) in sub-section (3), after the words “shall be” and before the words “subject to”, the words “in consultation with the State Government” shall be inserted;
2. (b) in sub-section (5),in the opening portion, for the words “or on receipt of a reference made by the State Government may”, the words “or on receipt of matter referred by the State Government, may, and in case such reference is made on the basis of audit report shall”, shall be substituted;
3. (c) in sub-section (9), after the words, “connected with a University” the words, “making a copy thereof to the State Government”; shall be inserted; and
4. (d) in sub-section (10), after the word “any proceeding of the”, the word and comma “Senate,” shall be inserted.

In the principal Act, in Section 6,─

1. (a) in sub-section (1), after the words “by a Committee”, he words “to him through the State Government,” shall be inserted.;
2. (b) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─ “(3) The Committee referred to in sub-section

1. (1) shall consist of three members which is as follows:─
   • (i) one member shall be nominated by the Chancellor out of three names recommended by the Government and he shall act as the Chairman of the Committee;
   • (ii) One member shall be nominated by the Chairman, University Grants Commission;
   • (iii) one member shall be nominated by the Syndicate of the concerned University: Provided that in case the outgoing Vice-Chancellor desires to re-apply for the post of Vice-Chancellor of the same University, he will refuse and not participate in any manner for selection of the Syndicate nominee. Otherwise, his candidature for the post of Vice-Chancellor shall be cancelled;
   • (iv) all the three members of the Committee must be persons of eminence in the sphere of higher education and must not be connected with the affairs of the concerned University and its affiliating or constituent colleges in any manner; and
   • (v) the State Government will initiate the process of selection of Vice-Chancellor, at least six months prior to the completion of the tenure of the existing Vice-Chancellor.”;
   • (c) in sub-section (5), after the words “in that behalf”, the following words shall be added at the end, namely:─ “and the panel of names, as recommended by the committee, shall be forwarded to the Chancellor for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor by the State Government after doing all due diligence including vigilance clearance from the concerned State Vigilance or Chief Vigilance Commissioner or State Government or Any other Agency or Institution as deemed fit”.;
   • (d) for sub-section (6), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─ “(6) The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a term of four years from the date on which he enters upon his office, or until he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier, and he shall be eligible for re-appointment not more than one term, subject to the provisions contained in sub section (1): Provided that the Chancellor, in consultation with State Government, may direct any Vice-Chancellor after his term has expired, to continue in office for such period, not exceeding a total period of one year or until his successor enters upon his office, whichever is earlier: Provided further that no person who has attended the age of seventy years shall be eligible to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor and no person shall continue to hold office of Vice-Chancellor after attaining the age as provided under this provision”.
   • (e) sub-sections
2. (7) and
3. (8) shall be omitted;
   • (f) for sub-section (9), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─ “(9) in case the office of the Vice-Chancellor fall vacant due to the absence of the Vice-Chancellor on leave the senior-most Professor shall perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor until the existing Vice-Chancellor resumes the duties of his office.”;
   • (g) in the proviso to sub-section (10), for the words, "Chancellor may appoint any of the Vice-Chancellor of a neighbouring", the words "the Chancellor in consultation with the State Government may appoint any of the Vice-Chancellor of any" shall be substituted.;
   • (h) for sub-section (20),the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─ “(20) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, , the Chancellor may, at any time after the Vice-Chancellor has entered upon his office, by order in writing and following the procedure prescribed, remove the Vice-Chancellor from office on grounds of incapacity, misconduct or violation of statutory provisions: Provided that no such order shall be made by the Chancellor unless the Vice-Chancellor has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken against him: Provided further that the Chancellor shall consult the State Government also before making such order: Provided also that the Chancellor may, at any time before making such order consult the State Government and place the Vice-Chancellor under suspension, pending enquiry.”

In the principal Act, in Section 7,─

1. (a) for sub-section (1), , the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─ “(1) The Registrar shall be appointed by the Chancellor out of three officers of a rank or pay which is equivalent to or more than the Joint Secretary rank in the State Government and no pending disciplinary or criminal proceeding and/or not punished with a major penalty in a disciplinary proceeding or convicted in any criminal proceeding, being recommended by the State Government. In case an officer of this rank is not available in State Government, with the approval of Chancellor, State Government may seek nominations from officers of a rank which is equivalent to or more than the Joint Secretary rank in the State Government belonging to Government of India or any other State Government, having no pending disciplinary or criminal proceeding and/or not punished with a major penalty in a disciplinary proceeding or convicted in any criminal proceeding, being duly recommended by the respective Government. In such cases, State Government may form one selection committee comprising of 3 members who will recommend three names out of which one may be appointed by the Chancellor as Registrar.”
2. (b) In sub-section (2),─
   • (i) for clause (c), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “(c) remain in custody of the records, the common seal and other property of the University;” and
   • (ii) in clause (f), after the words “assigned to him by the” and before the words “syndicate”, the word and comma “senate,” shall be inserted.

In the Principal Act, in Section 8, in sub-section (5), after the words “take part in the proceedings of”, the words “the senate and” and after the words “recorded in the proceeding of the Syndicate”, the words and common “or the senate, as the case may be” shall, respectively, be inserted.

-1 9.In the Principal Act, after Section 8, the following section shall be inserted, namely:─

8 A.─ Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act:

1. (a) the first Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor in consultation with State Government for the newly established Universities in such manner and on such conditions as prescribed and he shall hold

office for such term, not exceeding three years or as may be specified by

the Chancellor.

1. (b) the first Registrar, the first Comptroller of Finance and the first Controller of Examination shall be appointed by the Chancellor in consultation with State Government for the newly established Universities in such manner and on such conditions as prescribed and each of the said officers shall hold office for a term of 3 years or as may be specified by the Chancellor.
2. (c) The first Senate and the First Syndicate shall consist of not more than 31 members and 11 members respectively who shall be nominated by the State Government and hold office for a term of three years.
3. (d) The first Academic Council shall consist of not more than 21 members who shall be nominated by the State Government and shall hold office for a period of three years: Provided that if any vacancy occurs in the above office or authorities, the same shall be filled by appointment by the Chancellor or nomination by the State Government, as the case may be, and person so appointed or nominated shall hold office for so long as the officer or member in whose place he is appointed or nominated who have held office, if such vacancy had not occurred”.

-1

10. In the principal Act, after Section 8A, the following section shall be inserted, namely;─

9.

1. (1) The Senate shall consist of the following members, namely:─ Ex officio members:
   • (a) the Vice-Chancellor of the concerned University to act as Chairperson;
   • (b) the Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department
   • (c) the representative of the Government, to the Syndicate, not below the rank of Joint Secretary;
   • (d) the Director of Higher Education;
   • (e) the Director of Medical Education and Training, Odisha or his representative;
   • (f) the Director of Technical Education and Training, Odisha or his representative;
   • (g) the concerned Regional Director of Education;
   • (h) one Representative from the Odisha University of Health Sciences, to be nominated by its Vice-Chancellor;
     • (i) one Representative from the BijuPatnaik University of Technology, to be nominated by its Vice-Chancellor;
   • (j) the Collector of the revenue district or his representative;
   • (k) the Chairperson, Odisha State Higher Education Council or the Vice- Chairperson or any member duly authorised by him;
   • (l) Advocate-General, Odisha or his representative;
   • (m) Chairman, Post-Graduate Council of the concerned University;
   • (n) Heads of all post-graduate Department of the concerned University; Other members:
   • (o) three Principals or Professors of Government colleges, affiliated to the concerned University or in case of Unitary University, two Principals or Professors of any Government college, to be nominated by the Government, for each University on seniority cum rotation basis;
   • (p) two members of the concerned Academic council, to be selected from among themselves;
   • (q) The Member of Parliament to the Lower House in whose jurisdiction the University situates;
   • (r) four members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to be nominated by the Hon’ble speaker; two persons to be nominated by the Chancellor;
   • (t) President and Secretary of Student Union of the University;
   • (u) two members from among Non-Teaching Employees of the concerned University to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;
     • (v) two senior teachers of affiliated Non-Government Aided College per district, to be nominated by the Government; In case of Unitary University, two teachers of any government colleges to be nominated by the Government;
   • (w) three Alumni of the University to be nominated, one each by the Chancellor, State and the Syndicate;
     • (x) the President or Secretary of the oldest registered alumni association of the University;
   • (y) three teachers from Under Graduate Colleges and three teachers from colleges with Post-Graduation, to be nominated by the Syndicate;
   • (z) seven students including a lady student and one from Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste of the concerned University, to be nominated by the Syndicate, of whom one shall be from students having outstanding performance in academic pursuits, one shall be from students having outstanding performance in sports and one shall be from students having outstanding performance in performing arts and one shall be from NCC orNSS;
   • (za) three eminent academicians to be nominated by the Chancellor;
   • (zb) two members from industries to be nominated by the Syndicate;
   • (zc) one eminent person from Skill Development Sector to be nominated by the Syndicate; and
   • (zd) One eminent person of Odia diaspora staying abroad with excellent international reputation to be nominated by the Syndicate.
2. (2) The term of office of the members of the Senate other than the ex officio members shall be three years: Provided that the term of office of student members shall be for one academic year.
3. (3) The Senate shall exercise and perform the following powers and functions, namely:-
   • (i) to review policies and programmes of the University and suggest measures for its improvement and development;
   • (ii) to consider the annual report, annual accounts and audit report of the University and to pass resolutions thereon;
   • (iii) to review the performance of the University in the field of academics and research/ human resource management or financial management or compliance to audit observation or risk and opportunity in higher education; and
   • (iv) to exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed in statute.
4. (4) The Registrar shall be the Member Secretary and Convenor of the Senate. The Senate will be convened at least twice in an academic year.

In the principal Act, in Section 10, in sub-section (1),─

1. (a) for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ "(b) the representative of Government not below the rank of Joint Secretary”;
2. (b) for clause (h), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “(h)two Professors of the University (one from Arts or Humanities stream and one from Science stream) to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor on seniority cum rotation basis: Provided that in case of Unitary University, for clause (h), any four Heads of remaining PG Departments of the University to be nominated by the Vice–Chancellor”;
3. (c) for clause (i), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “(i)two members of the Academic Council who are in Senate;”
4. (d) for clause (j),the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “(j) Four eminent persons to be nominated by the Chancellor, out of the panel of names given by the State Government;”
5. (e) for clause (k),the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “(k) One senior Government college Principal and one senior Aided College Principal on seniority basis to be nominated by Government;”
6. (f) for clause
7. (l) the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “
8. (l) One member of the Non-Teaching staff to be nominated by the Senate;”
9. (g) Clauses
10. (m) and
11. (n) shall be omitted.

In the Principal Act, in Section 11, in sub-section (1), after clause (j), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:─ “(j-1) three Researchers and three industry representatives to be nominated by the Chancellor;”

In the principal Act,in Section 12, in sub-section (2),─

1. (i) for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:─ “(a) to advice the syndicate on all academic matter including system of imparting education through any means of communication such as seminars, broadcasting, telecasting, internet, correspondence courses, contact programs or the combination of any two or more such means;” and
2. (ii) after clause (k), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:─ “(l) to recommend to the syndicate for acquiring NAAC, NBA, NIRF ranking or any other ranking by the University and its constituent colleges and affiliated colleges.”

In the principal Act, after Section 12, the following section shall be inserted, namely:─ “13. Finance Committee

1. (1) The composition of the Finance committee shall be,─ Ex officio members:
   • (a) the Vice Chancellor – Chairperson;
   • (b) the Representative of Finance Department not below the rank of Deputy Secretary;
   • (c) the Representative of General Administration and Public Grievance Department not below the rank of Deputy Secretary;
   • (d) the Secretary to Government in Higher Education Department or any officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary nominated by him;
   • (e) The Representative of Law Department not below the rank of Deputy Secretary;
   • (f) the Registrar;
   • (g) the Comptroller of Finance - shall be the Member Secretary Other members:
   • (h) Three members to be nominated by the Syndicate out of whom at least one shall be member of syndicate; and
     • (i) one person to be nominated by the Senate.
2. (2) The Vice-Chancellor shall preside over all the meetings and in his absence, the members present shall elect a chairperson to preside over such meetings;
3. (3) The quorum of the meeting shall consist of five members out of which one member specified at clause
   • (b) and
   • (e) is a must be present.
4. (4) All members of Finance Committee, other than the ex officio members, shall hold office for a period of three years.
5. (5) The Finance Committee shall primarily ensure that the general system of financial management in the University is made as per the provisions contained in the General Financial Rules or any other provision of the State Government in this regard and the Delegation of Financial Power Rules of the State or other relevant provisions of the Government in this regard in the State for all the funds of the University.
6. (6) The Finance Committee shall meet at least four times in an academic year (at least twice each semester) to examine the accounts, all issues related to Legal matters, scrutinize the proposals for expenditure, audit, all human resource management issues having financial impact and those items which have not been included in the budget.
7. (7) All the audit reports of the University and their compliances shall be assessed by the Finance Committee and furnish their recommendation to the Syndicate.
8. (8) All the proceedings of the Finance Committee, annual accounts, financial estimates, views on audit reports and compliances prepared by the Finance Committee shall be placed before the syndicate for consideration and approval.
9. (9) The Finance Committee shall recommend limits for the total recurring expenditure and the total non-recurring expenditure for the year, based on the income and resources of the University.

In the Principal Act, after Section 13, the following section shall be inserted, namely:─ 13-A Building and Works Committee.─

1. (1) The composition of the Building and works committee shall be,─ Ex officio members:
   • (a) The Vice Chancellor – Chairperson;
   • (b) the representative of Government to Syndicate;
   • (c) the Registrar Member Secretary;
   • (d) the Comptroller of Finance; Other members:
   • (e) Two Professors or Associate Professors of the University to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;
   • (f) Two members to be nominated by the Syndicate out of whom at least one shall be a member of syndicate;
   • (g) Superintending Engineer (Civil) of Public Works Department
   • (PWD) of respective territorial jurisdiction; and
   • (h) Superintending Engineer (General Electrical Division) Public Works Department
   • (PWD) of respective territorial jurisdiction.
2. (2) The Vice-Chancellor shall preside over all the meetings and in his absence, the members present shall elect a chairperson to preside over such meetings;
3. (3) Hall of the members of the Building and Works Committee shall form the quorum for holding the meeting.
4. (4) The Building and Works Committee shall primarily ensure that appropriate infrastructure in all respect such as construction of adequate buildings for academic and research purpose, disable friendly buildings, hostels especially Girls’ hostels or foreign students, laboratories, Centre of Excellence, Playground, stadium, etc.
5. (5) The Building and Works Committee of the University may, after thorough examination, properly prioritise and recommend the specific project to be stated along with their costs and quarterly/yearly requirement of funds till completions.
6. (6) After Building and Works Committee recommendations, the University may place the proposal for the specific building project before the Finance Committee for its approval. After Finance Committee approval, the University may place the same before the Syndicate for its Approval. Then this Proposal may be forwarded to State Government for consideration and funding.
7. (7) The Building and Works Committee shall meet at least four times in an academic year (at least twice in each semester) to review the review and examine the requirement of the infrastructure and progress of works taken up by the University.

In the principal Act, in section 15, in sub-section- (1), after the words“ Authority of a University,” before the words “for the whole”, the words “and members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly elected to the Senate” shall be inserted.

In the Principal Act, for Section 21, the following section shall be substituted, namely:─

1. (1) On and from the commencement of the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2024, but subject to the provisions hereafter provided, the direct recruitment to the posts of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor and other academic staff in the University shall be, on the basis of merit through an all India advertisement, followed by a duly constituted selection committee as provided hereunder and following UGC Regulations issued from time to time, on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in Universities and Colleges and measures for maintenance of standards in Higher Education and in the manner as provided under this Act.
2. (2) Unless otherwise provided in this Act and not contrary to the UGC Regulations as provided, all teachers and other academic staff of the University, as prescribed by UGC, shall be appointed by the Syndicate which is the Appointing Authority, in the manner prescribed below; (3)
   • (a) For such appointment of teachers in the University, there shall be a selection committee which shall consist of the following members as per the relevant UGC Regulations, along with other members namely:-
     • (i) Vice-Chancellor or his nominee as Chairperson.
     • (ii) One academician not below the rank of Professor nominated by the Chancellor;
     • (iii) three subject experts selected by the Vice-Chancellor out of the panel of names, recommended by the syndicate;
     • (iv) Dean of the Faculty or Head of the Department as applicable; and
     • (v) One academician from SC/ST/OBC/Women/Minority/PWD as per the candidate present, to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, if any, of the selection committee members does not belong to that category ;
   • (b) Four members shall constitute quorum, in which two subject experts members and one academician nominated by the Chancellor is a must.
3. (4) The University, considering the existing and anticipated vacancy of succeeding year, of faculty of the University shall make advertisement of the vacancies through the Registrar as and when required and at least once in a year and invites applications in physical mode and online mode on a digital platform developed for this purpose, from candidates, by way of advertisement in three widely circulated national daily and in three widely circulated local language newspapers as well as in the University website with copy to office of the Chancellor and the Government. (5)
   • (a) Any four members of the concerned school or department or internal quality assurance cell of the concerned department of the University or any other person assigned by the Vice-Chancellor along with Registrar shall scrutinize the applications and shortlist eligible candidates for examination and/or interview, the details of which will be shared with each candidate and will be published in the website.
   • (b) The selection committee thereafter will proceed with the examination and/or interview, following the UGC Regulations in force, for selection of candidates for appointment as faculties and other academic staff, as the case may be, from among the shortlisted candidates;
   • (c) All the members of the Selection Committee are required to furnish a declaration that none of the candidates for whom they have conducted examination and/or interview are related to him in any manner or else the concerned Selection Committee member shall recuse himself.
4. (6) The selection committee soon after completion of the examination and or the interview shall finalize the merit list of the candidates giving due importance to the reservation principle for all categories candidates as per the prevailing law in force and handover the merit list to the Vice-Chancellor for final acceptance by the syndicate on satisfaction.
5. (7) The Vice-Chancellor, shall place the final merit list in order of merit along with relevant records to the syndicate preferably, within a month for approval. After approval by the Syndicate on satisfaction, the same shall be published in order of merit in the website of the University and the website developed for this purpose: Provided that if the Syndicate is unable to accept the recommendations made by the Selection Committee, it shall record its reasons and submit the case to the Chancellor for final orders.whose decision thereon shall be final
6. (8) The final merit list will remain valid for a period of one year or till initiation of next selection process of teachers and other academic staff, whichever is earlier.
7. (9) The Registrar will render all necessary assistance in the selection process of teachers of the University, to the Vice-Chancellor and all the records relating to the selection process will remain in his/her custody for all future reference.
8. (10) For the purpose of maintenance of transparency and fairness in the selection process of teaching faculty in the Universities, the Chancellor may issue necessary guideline, in a manner as prescribed, from time to time.
9. (11) On and from the commencement of the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024, the probation, confirmation, promotion under career advancement scheme of all the continuing teachers and other academic staff as well as of the newly appointed shall be as per the relevant UGC Regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in Universities and colleges and other measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education and the State guidelines, issued in this regard from time-to-time.

In the principal Act, in Section 23,─

1. (a) in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be added, namely:─ “ Provided further that all amounts received/generated by the University shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.”;
2. (b) after sub-section (1), the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely:─

“(1-a ) A copy of the annual accounts together with the audit report thereon and

its compliance shall be submitted to the Chancellor, Senate along with the observation of the Syndicate. ‘ Provided that in case it is observed that the action of the officiating or of

any former Vice- Chancellor has caused pecuniary loss to the University and/

or to the State Government then the Chancellor, by order in writing, direct the University to take action for recovery of pecuniary loss from the concerned Vice-Chancellor or former Vice-Chancellor after giving due opportunity of being heard, following provisions of OPDR Act as land revenue.’ (1-b ) A copy of the annual accounts together with the audit report, as submitted to the Chancellor, shall also be submitted to the State Government, which shall, as soon as may be, cause the same to be laid before the Odisha Legislative Assembly for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one or more sessions. Appropriate matters relating to audit compliance may be placed before the Public Accounts commettee of the Odisha Legislative Assembly as deemed proper.”

1. (c) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:─

“(2) The University shall, within thirty days of audit reports from Local Fund Audit or

Comptroller and Auditor General shall render necessary compliance to all quarters and all the audit reports along with the compliances shall be displayed in the website of the University for three years for information of all concerned. ”

1. (d) after the sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:─ “(4) The University shall make necessary provision for pre-audit, internal audit of its funds from empanelled audit firms. The State Government shall have power to engage the empanelled audit firms for the purpose, if the University fails to do so and the cost for the same will be borne by the University concerned.”

Schedule Sub-section (6) of Section 3 Universities with territorial jurisdiction | Sl. No. | Name Of the University with date of establishment | Territorial jurisdiction | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | Utkal University, Bhubaneswar (27.11.1943) | 1-Angul (Excluding colleges under Athamallick sub-division ),2- Cuttack, 3- Dhenkanal, 4- Kendrapara, 5- Jagatsinghpur, 6-Jajpur, 7- Nayagarh, 8- Puri, 9- Khurdha | | 2 | Sambalpur University, Sambalpur (01.01.1967) | 1-Angul ( Colleges of Athamallick Sub-division only ). 2- Baragarh,3- Boudh, 4- Deogarh,5- Jharsuguda, 6-Sambalpur, 7- Sundargarh | | 3 | Berhampur University, Berhampur (02.01.1967) | 1-Ganjam, 2- Gajapati, 3-Kandhamal | | 4 | Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Visvavidyalaya, Puri (07.07.1981) | Sanskrit Colleges only Whole of Odisha | | 5 | Fakir Mohan University, Balasore (03.07.1999) | 1-Balasore, 2- Bhadrak | | 6 | Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada (13.07.1998) | Mayurbhanj | | 7 | Ravenshaw University, Cuttack (15.11.2006) (Unitary) | | | 8 | Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur (30.05.2015) | Unitary University | | 9 | Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar (30.05.2015) | 1-Anugul, 2- Cuttack,3- Dhenkanal, 4- Kendrapara,5- Jagatsinghpur, 6- Jajpur, 7- Nayagarh, 8- Puri,9- Khurdha (Only Womens Colleges under this districts only) | | 10 | MaaManikeshwari University, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi (01.09.2020) | 1-Kalahandi, 2- Nuapada | | 11 | Rajendra University, Bolangir (01.09.2020) | 1-Bolangir, 2- Sonepur | | 12 | Madhusudan Law University, Cuttack (28.04.2021) | All Law Colleges except constituent law colleges | | 13 | Khallikote Unitary University, Berhampur (01.08.2021) | Unitary University | | 14 | Vikram Dev University, Jeypore (01.06.2023) | 1- Koraput, 2-Rayagada, 3- Nawarangpur, 4-Malkangiri | | 15 | Dharanidhar University, Keonjhar (01.06.2023) | Keonjhar |