Bhubaneswar, March 22: The race for the post of Utkal University’s vice-chancellor seems to have reached a decisive stage with the search committee recommending three names to the chancellor and governor M.C. Bhandare.

The chancellor reserves the right to either accept the recommendation of the committee or to pick someone on his own. More than 90 candidates from across the country have applied for the post.

The race for the vice-chancellor’s post in Utkal University is being keenly watched as the process of selecting a vice-chancellor for North Orissa University (NOA) has already got into a controversy.

Reliable sources said the search committee comprising former chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) P.C. Hota, the governor’s representative Srinibas Sahu and Professor P.N. Verghese met yesterday and recommended the name of R.C. Mohanty and P.K. Sahu of Utkal University and R.K. Chouhan, a former secretary of Union Grant Commission (UGC), Delhi, for the post.

Mohanty, who recently retried from Utkal University, is known for his research in the field of botany.

He had been shortlisted for the post in 2008 but his name was struck down at the last moment. The present incumbent, Binayk Rath, then became the vice-chancellor.

P.K. Sahu of the MBA department joined the university in 1976. He has held key posts including that of the chairman of the postgraduate council of the university.

Among the applicants are around 20 professors of Utkal University. The selection committee followed strict guidelines to shortlist the candidates. Besides educational qualifications, each candidate’s administrative experience has also been taken into consideration, said a source.

Joint secretary to the governor Debraj Mishra said, “The search committee has sent the names to the governor. The recommended names are in a sealed envelop. It will be opened only in the presence of the governor.”

Petitions have been filed against the selection procedure followed by the search committee for choosing a vice-chancellor for North Orissa University (NOU).

Governor M.C. Bhandare has already interviewed the three persons recommended by the search committee including its existing vice chancellor Siba Prasad Rath. The two others persons interviewed were S. Dutta of NOU and Sanghamitra Mohanty, Utkal University’s head of computer science department.

The petitioners have said that according to UGC rules, an existing V-C cannot be reappointed.

Sources said that the chancellor’s office is verifying the allegations. “I cannot tell you the status of the inquiry at this moment,” said Debraj Mishra.

“So the interview of the incumbent V-C has made the entire process controversial,” the petitioners alleged. Sources said that the chancellor’s office is verifying the allegations. “ “ I can not tell you the status of the inquiry is at this moment,” said Debraj Mishra, the joint secretary to governor.

The race for the vice-chancellor’s post in Utkal University is being keenly watched as the process of selecting a vice-chancellor for North Orissa University (NOA) has already got into a controversy.