Odisha’s Ravenshaw varsity’s annual function put on hold

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Apr 19:

After a tug of war between authorities of Odisha’s Ravenshaw University and representatives of Students’ Union, the annual function scheduled to be held this evening has been put on hold as the officials denied permission to organise the function on the lawns in the campus.

While the preparations for the annual function of the Students’ Union was in full swing and was to be celebrated today, the varsity authorities put a spanner in the preparations objecting to the erection of stage on the lawns in the premises.

“Neither they have sought permission to organise the programme on the lawns, nor have we given approval for the same. If they organise the function on the lawns despite this, officials of the university will not attend the programme. We have served show cause notices and action would be initiated against them as per law,” Vice-Chancellor of Ravenshaw University Prakash Chandra Sarangi said.

Several ministers, politicians and other high-profile guests are scheduled to attend the function. Keeping in view of their security, it is not the proper venue to hold the function. We have informed police about this, he added

Earlier yesterday, tension prevailed in the varsity campus over this. Meanwhile, police have been deployed in the campus to avoid any untoward situation.

“Many programmes have been organised on the lawns earlier. I have written to the Registrar seeking permission to hold the function here but haven’t received any reply yet. As the authorities are not giving permission to hold the function, we have decided to put the function on hold. The date of the function will be decided in the next students’ union meeting,” Students’ Union President Ramya Ranjan Behera said.

Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahi, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Law Minister Arun Sahu, Cuttack MP Bhatruhari Mahatab, Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasish Samantaray and Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal were scheduled to grace the occasion as chief guests.