Odisha Assembly Passes Universities Amendment Bill After Marathon Debate
The debate saw intense resistance from senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislators
By : Akshaya Kumar Sahoo
Update: 2025-04-03 06:59 GMT
Bhubaneswar: In a historic legislative session extending over 16 hours, the Odisha Legislative Assembly passed the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the early hours of Thursday. The bill was approved at approximately 4:29 AM following an exhaustive discussion led by the Mohan Charan Majhi government.
The bill, introduced on Wednesday afternoon by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, was immediately taken up for deliberation. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, remained present throughout the extended session, underscoring the administration’s commitment to the legislation.
The debate saw intense resistance from senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislators, including Ranendra Pratap Swain, Arun Kumar Sahoo, Ganeswar Behera, and Dhruba Sahoo, who proposed multiple amendments. In their effort to challenge the ruling BJP government, the opposition lawmakers attempted to corner Minister Suraj. However, the young minister maintained his composure, systematically addressing their concerns.
BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo led the opposition’s arguments, speaking against the bill for over three hours. Ranendra Pratap Swain and Ganeswar Behera contributed with discussions lasting 90 minutes and over an hour, respectively. Countering their stance, Higher Education Minister Suraj defended the bill for nearly an hour, with support from fellow BJP legislators who actively engaged in the debate.
Following the bill’s passage, Minister Suraj underscored its significance, stating, “The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill was passed today after a 12.5-hour debate. This legislation will help address faculty vacancies in universities, restore institutional autonomy, and facilitate the implementation of the New Education Policy.”
Despite the ruling party’s success, the opposition remained critical. BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo condemned the bill’s hurried introduction, cautioning that its legal standing might face scrutiny in the Supreme Court. “The University Act was amended in 2020 under the BJD government, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has since challenged it in the Supreme Court. With the case still pending, the validity of this new amendment may also be examined by the Apex Court,” Sahoo remarked.
On the other hand, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya hailed the bill as a milestone for Odisha’s higher education system. “Democracy has been strengthened in the Odisha Assembly since the BJP came to power. The passage of this bill, following a rigorous 12.5-hour debate, marks a transformative step for the state’s universities,” Acharya asserted.
In addition to the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill, the Assembly also approved the Odisha Highway Authority Bill, 2025, further solidifying the government’s legislative agenda.
The bill, introduced on Wednesday afternoon by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, was immediately taken up for deliberation. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, remained present throughout the extended session, underscoring the administration’s commitment to the legislation.
The debate saw intense resistance from senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislators, including Ranendra Pratap Swain, Arun Kumar Sahoo, Ganeswar Behera, and Dhruba Sahoo, who proposed multiple amendments. In their effort to challenge the ruling BJP government, the opposition lawmakers attempted to corner Minister Suraj. However, the young minister maintained his composure, systematically addressing their concerns.
BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo led the opposition’s arguments, speaking against the bill for over three hours. Ranendra Pratap Swain and Ganeswar Behera contributed with discussions lasting 90 minutes and over an hour, respectively. Countering their stance, Higher Education Minister Suraj defended the bill for nearly an hour, with support from fellow BJP legislators who actively engaged in the debate.
Following the bill’s passage, Minister Suraj underscored its significance, stating, “The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill was passed today after a 12.5-hour debate. This legislation will help address faculty vacancies in universities, restore institutional autonomy, and facilitate the implementation of the New Education Policy.”
Despite the ruling party’s success, the opposition remained critical. BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo condemned the bill’s hurried introduction, cautioning that its legal standing might face scrutiny in the Supreme Court. “The University Act was amended in 2020 under the BJD government, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has since challenged it in the Supreme Court. With the case still pending, the validity of this new amendment may also be examined by the Apex Court,” Sahoo remarked.
On the other hand, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya hailed the bill as a milestone for Odisha’s higher education system. “Democracy has been strengthened in the Odisha Assembly since the BJP came to power. The passage of this bill, following a rigorous 12.5-hour debate, marks a transformative step for the state’s universities,” Acharya asserted.
In addition to the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill, the Assembly also approved the Odisha Highway Authority Bill, 2025, further solidifying the government’s legislative agenda.