NLU Odisha in Cuttack, whose former vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao had joined NLU Delhi in September 2020, will be appointing his replacement with Delhi University’s law faculty former dean and head, Prof Ved Kumari.

Kumari had been law dean at Delhi University (DU) until 2016, when she had resigned in protest over alleged stone-walling of faculty appointments and other inaction by the university’s senior administration.

She has continued teaching at DU and was due for retirement in August of this year.

When contacted, she confirmed her appointment and said she had been busy with research, writing, teaching, webinar and training.

In terms of her plans for NLU Odisha, she said it was still too early, but noted: “Plans will be made after I get to know about the Univ after being on ground. I believe in continuous process of learning and unlearning.”

Update: The selection committee consisted of RMNLU Lucknow VC Prof SK Bhatnagar, Nalsar Hyderabad VC Prof Faizan Mustafa and Justice AK Patnaik.

Out of a total of 41 candidates applying for the position, eight were shortlisted, including a number of former VCs of other NLUs.

Update 23 February 2021: We understand that the longer shortlist of eight included well-known names that either applied or had been nominated:

• former NLSIU Bangalore VC Venkat Rao,
• ex-NLUO VC Prof V Nagaraj,
• DSNLU Prof Rajendra Prasad (former Acharya Nagarjuna University VC),
• NLIU Bhopal senior Prof Ghayur Alam,
• JNU Prof VG Hegde,
• Delhi University’s Prof VK Ahuja, and
• Bennett University head of law and Prof Sridhar Acharyulu.