Plea seeks probe into appointment of CUO acting VC

Koraput: A petition seeking an independent probe into the appointment of professor Narasingha Charan Panda as acting vice-chancellor (VC) at the Central University of Odisha (CUO), Sunabeda, has been forwarded by the president’s secretariat to the department of higher education for appropriate action.

The petition was submitted by Jeypore-based human rights activist Anup Kumar Patro to President Droupadi Murmu in her capacity as visitor of central universities. Besides seeking a probe, the petition also calls for the immediate appointment of a permanent VC at the university.

Patro’s representation draws heavily on observations made in the 2024-25 compliance audit conducted by the office of the director general of audit (central), Hyderabad. The audit reportedly raised question mark regarding Panda’s appointment as professor at CUO in Jan 2023 while he was on extraordinary leave (EOL) from his parent institution, Panjab University.

Referring to provisions of the central civil services leave rules, the auditors noted that a govt employee on leave is generally not permitted to take up another employment unless the services are formally transferred or the employee resigns from the parent institution.