Cuttack: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has cancelled the appointment of Professor Jagneshwar Dandapat as the in-charge vice-chancellor (VC) of Utkal University.

The Advocate General today informed this to the Orissa High Court during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Prabir Das.

The lawyer had moved the High Court, questioning the legality of the appointment. He had cited that the appointment was a violation of the Odisha Universities Act.

"As per the Odisha Universities Act, if a university does not have a regular vice-chancellor, the VC of another university can be appointed as the in-charge. However, in violation of this provision, Biotechnology Professor Jagneshwar Dandapat was appointed as the in-charge vice-chancellor of Utkal University on May 27," said Das.

"Challenging the legality of this move, I had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Orissa High Court. During the hearing today, the Advocate General informed the court that the Governor has cancelled Dandapat’s appointment. The court directed that all future appointments must strictly follow the existing rules," he said.