Bhubaneswar: Vice-Chancellor Surendranath Pasupalak, Wednesday, called a press meet, a day after the Governor has removed Pasupalak from his post of vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) with immediate effect after corruption charges were leveled against him by the former assistant registrar of the varsity.
Surendranath Pasupalak said that as a disciplined person he wanted to keep mum on the issue but decided to speak up once the situation went out of control.
Pasupalak was sent on leave on account of corruption charges. Governor and Chancellor of the university, Ganeshi Lal has sent Pasupalak on leave with immediate effect. Principal Secretary to Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment department, Saurabh Garg, has been given additional charge as V-C of the varsity.
In the press meet Pasupalk clarifying that Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology received a letter February 26, 2019 which says that he was “allowed to proceed on leave”. He claimed that he did not ask for any leaves.
He also added that the letter mentioned about an enquiry. He stated that he did not know about the enquiry s the information was not communicated to him. He heard about the enquiry on him through the media and does not know any details of the same.
He also said that there was no financial irregularity and therefore no question of a vigilance enquiry. The enquiry was based on allegations by a retired employee of this university. Documents show that the information given by him is not credible. It is pointed out that after joining as Vice-Chancellor, several irregularities were found out in which his role was apprehended.
One allegation was about the advertisement for appointment of SMS on Agrometeorology in Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The essential qualification was kept as Masters on Agrometeorology. A person specialized on a subject can deliver better. The SMSs of KVKs need to have Odia knowledge for efficient discharge of duties. The University has a PG Department of Agrometeorology and several University graduates were searching for jobs. In response to the advertisement, 41 applications were received.
A date for the interview was fixed but was canceled at the last moment with a directive which included other subjects as the criteria of essential qualification.
Second is on fixing of the pension amount of the vice-chancellor. This was done as per the rule of the university. The rule was exactly the same, which was followed when the same person was the university officer. After complaint was received two years bac,k the matter was checked by the varsity officials and no irregularity was found. Even if there were any irregularities, the officer should be held responsible and not the V-C.
He also said that there are many instances where his work was hampered and many of his decisions were violated. HE did try to bring it to the notice of the chancellor but no actions were taken.
