Odisha govt dissolves governing bodies of non-government aided colleges

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today dissolved the governing bodies or managing committees of non-government aided degree colleges in the State. The move comes a day after Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo said that no leader or local MLA will be member of the college governing bodies.

As per a notification issued by the Higher Education department, Additional District Magistrates (ADM) will act as Presidents of governing bodies of colleges located in district headquarters till further orders. In case of any district having more than one ADM, the District Magistrate and Collector shall nominate one ADM to act as President of the governing body.

Similarly, the Sub-Collectors of the sub-division will occupy the President position of the governing bodies of the colleges situated outside the district headquarters.

The Autonomous Colleges and the colleges established by minority communities have been kept out of the purview of the decision.

The notification said the order comes into force with immediate effect.

Yesterday, the HIgher Education Minister after attending a meeting of the Odisha Parents Association on Thursday had said that the department has
decided that no elected representative or local MLA would be allowed in the governing bodies of degree colleges.

He said experts and local academicians should ideally be the president of the college governing bodies. Sahoo also said that the governments
decision would soon be notified in the state Gazette.