Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over the deteriorating state of higher education in Odisha due to severe faculty shortages, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sought a report from the Higher Education secretary on vacant teaching posts across state universities and colleges.
Acting on a petition by the Odisha Parents’ Federation (OPF), Commission chairperson Justice Shatrughna Pujahari directed the department to submit a factual report detailing measures taken to fill the vacancies and strengthen the system. According to data submitted, over 4,147 lecturer and professor posts remain vacant in Odisha’s higher education institutions — 67 per cent in universities and 31 per cent in colleges.
Out of 2,073 UGC-approved posts, 1,404 are unfilled, while government and aided colleges have 760 and 1,983 vacant positions, respectively. The association alleged that the dependence on 1,753 guest and contractual lecturers has severely affected education quality, as these short-term teachers cannot match the dedication or stability of permanent faculty. It also claimed that while more than 30 lakh qualified youth remain unemployed, the state’s failure to recruit them violates their right to employment and the students’ right to quality education.
Citing violations of Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution and provisions of the UGC Amendment Act, 2018, which mandates permanent appointments, the association demanded that all 4,147 vacant posts be filled before the 2026 academic session, and the engagement of new guest faculty be stopped immediately. The body further argued that older lecturers nearing retirement often lack efficiency compared to younger, more tech-savvy teachers who can adapt to modern teaching methods. “If the government fails to act soon, we will intensify our agitation,” the association’s president Basudev Bhatt, working president Prasanna Bishoyi, and general secretary Ashok Paikaray said in a joint statement.
Orissa POST- Odisha’s No.1 Trusted English Daily
