Bhubaneswar, May 26: Governor S.C. Jamir's office has begun the search for a new head of Utkal University with the incumbent vice-chancellor's tenure set to end next month.

Sources said as many as 60 candidates have already applied for the post.

The tenure of present V-C Ashok Das ends on June 19. Das, a former head of the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre's Laser and Plasma Technology Division, was appointed in May 2014 following the superannuation of Prasant Kumar Sahu on May 1, 2014. In a September 2014 interview to The Telegraph , Das said he would not opt for a second term.

Varsity registrar Manmath Kumar Biswal said: "We have received three applications from our university and the remaining applicants are from other places, including non-Odias. Several applications have been received from outside the state. The scrutiny process will begin tomorrow."

Sources said all the applications would be sent to the chancellor's office after preliminary scrutiny. A scrutiny committee, appointed by the governor, would shortlist candidates and Jamir will take a call on the issue.

Among the applicants from the university are professors Ranjan Kumar Bal, K.K. Basa and Jayant Kumar Parida.

University employees support an in-house appointment for the coveted position. "One of the in-house candidates should be given the post. They have seen how the university has grown over the years and will be able to give their best," said an employee of the university.

"If an outsider is recruited, he will take at least six months to learn about the varsity's culture. As the V-C's tenure is only for three years, he will hardly find time to work after that," he said.

Another member of staff said: "For the last few years, there has been a lot of politics on campus. With the next general election likely to be held in 2019, a man who can handle campus politics well should be given the chance. Only a professor from the campus will be able to deal with the issue and take the university on the right path."

In a related development, the tenure of Ravenshaw University vice-chancellor Prakash Chandra Sarangi will end in December 2017. Sarangi had earlier complained of political interference and resigned from the position. However, he reconsidered his decision following the chancellor's assurance of giving him a free hand in running varsity affairs.