Cuttack: Days after the scuffle between BJP MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi and Ravenshaw University hostel wardens over the East Hostel unrest, a fresh row has erupted over the legislator’s nomination to the varsity senate. Sethi has said the speaker of the Odisha legislative assembly has nominated him as a member of the Ravenshaw University Senate.Meanwhile, Ravenshaw University Teachers’ Association (RUTA) on Friday alleged that Sethi’s nomination to the senate has not yet been formalised, as the varsity is yet to issue the mandatory notification constituting the body, and until then, the MLA cannot claim its membership. “There has been no notification from the university regarding the constitution of the senate. Therefore, claiming to be a senate member before the notification is issued is not appropriate,” said RUTA president Urmishree Bedamatta, adding the recent controversy has highlighted the need for a clear protocol governing the visit and participation of public representatives in the university.“There should be a defined protocol on how elected representatives interact with the university’s statutory bodies so that such situations do not recur,” she said.Ravenshaw University vice-chancellor Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra clarified that the nomination process is underway and the notification will be issued after completion of all procedural formalities. “The speaker of the Odisha legislative assembly has nominated four members to the senate, including MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi. We received the nomination from the speaker’s office in July and have already initiated the process. The proposal has been forwarded to the registrar’s office, and the notification will be published shortly while constituting the full senate,” he said.Das Mohapatra explained that the university senate comprise 75 members, including heads of departments, principals of affiliated colleges, alumni representatives and members from various other categories as prescribed under the varsity statutes, which takes time to coordinate.Sethi alleged some people in the varsity are making a mess, instead of focusing on academics. “They are more into politics. They must concentrate on academic development of the varsity,” said Sethi.Earlier this week, Sethi’s visit to the university, during a meeting on the East Hostel issue, triggered a confrontation with the hostel wardens, escalating tensions on the campus.
