In a dramatic and intense session that went on all night, the Odisha State Assembly passed the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill 2024 at around 4:29 AM on Thursday. The debate, which stretched for more than 12.5 hours, saw fiery arguments from both the ruling BJP and the Opposition, especially the BJD.
A Heated All-Night Debate
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi stayed in the Assembly through the entire session — a rare sight — and so did Deputy CM Pravati Parida. Interestingly, Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister, was absent during this crucial session.
Several BJD leaders, including Arun Sahoo, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Ganeswar Behera, and Dhruba Sahoo, raised strong objections to the Bill. In response, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj led the defence for the government, arguing that the bill was necessary to reform and modernize higher education in Odisha.
Even within the ruling party, Chief Minister Majhi questioned the absence of some MLAs during the voting. He reportedly made personal calls to ask them why they weren’t present.
Some of the speeches were marathon efforts — Arun Sahoo spoke for over three hours, Swain for 1.5 hours, and Behera for another hour. The Education Minister himself countered the opposition’s arguments for nearly an hour. Eventually, the bill was passed despite the heavy pushback.
What’s In the Bill? Here’s What Will Actually Change
Let’s break down the key takeaways from the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill 2024 in simple terms:
1. Comeback of the University Senate System
Odisha is bringing back the Senate system in its universities — a more democratic model of decision-making in higher education. The Senate includes various academic and administrative members and helps in shaping major policies for the university. This model had been done away with in earlier reforms but is now being revived.
Advance Planning for Vice-Chancellor Appointments
From now on, the process to appoint a new Vice Chancellor (VC) will start at least 6 months before the current VC’s term ends.
- A three-member Appointment Committee will handle this:
- One member is chosen by the Governor (Chancellor).
- One by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson.
- One is by the University Syndicate (an internal governing body).
- The committee will shortlist three eligible candidates — and importantly, none of them can have any pending corruption cases.
- The Governor (Chancellor) will then pick one candidate from the list. The new VC will serve a 4-year term or until 70 years of age, whichever comes first. They can be reappointed for one more term but not beyond that.
3. VCs Will Be Held Accountable
If a Vice Chancellor makes any administrative errors, the Governor can ask for a written explanation.
Before any disciplinary action or suspension, there must be:
- Consultation with the State Government.
- A proper investigation into the matter.
Also, if the VC goes on leave, a senior professor will temporarily take over their duties.
4. Balancing State and Central Powers
The bill reflects a delicate balancing act between central academic norms (like those set by UGC) and state control over university administration. The Governor still holds power as the Chancellor but will have to work closely with the state government on key matters.
The Political Reactions
BJD’s Strong Opposition
BJD MLA Arun Sahoo called the bill “rushed” and “misguided.” He argued that:
- The original University Act was made in 1989, and a major amendment was already done in 2020 by the BJD government.
- The 2020 amendment is still under legal scrutiny by the Supreme Court because the UGC challenged it.
- Since that case is still pending, the validity of this new 2024 amendment could also end up being questioned in court.
BJP’s Defense and Optimism
On the other hand, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya said this bill will bring a “revolution” in Odisha’s higher education. He praised the intense debate as a sign of strong democracy in the state and claimed that the new changes would make the system more efficient and transparent.
The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill 2024 is not just another bureaucratic update — it represents a clash of ideologies: centralization vs decentralization, speed vs scrutiny, and political dominance vs academic autonomy.
Whether it turns out to be a bold reform or a hasty move will depend on how it’s implemented — and what the Supreme Court decides in the months to come.
