Bhubaneswar, July 23: In a significant development, Odisha Governor and Chancellor of state universities, Hari Babu Kambhampati, has officially revoked the appointment of Professor Jagneshwar Dandapat as Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University.

The decision was communicated to the Odisha High Court by the state’s Advocate General on July 22, during a hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the legality of the VC's appointment.

The PIL, filed by advocate Prabir Das, alleged that Dandapat’s appointment violated provisions of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989. The petition raised concerns over procedural lapses and lack of transparency in the selection process, which, according to the petitioner, undermined the credibility of the state's higher education governance.

Following the Governor’s decision, legal experts believe this move reaffirms the importance of strictly adhering to statutory norms in academic appointments. The court was informed that the Chancellor, exercising his authority, has now cancelled the appointment in light of the legal and procedural irregularities pointed out in the petition.

Further directions from the court and the state government regarding the appointment of a new VC are awaited.

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