Jagatsinghpur district collector Yamini Sarangi has ordered an inquiry over two colleges with almost the same name functioning on a plot which both claim to belong to them. What is in a name? Quite a lot if one were to examine the case of Gadibrahma Women’s College (Plus 3 college) at Kaduapada and Gadibrahma Mahila Mohavidyalya (Plus 2 college).

Land, grant in aid, affiliation all come into play and both institutions present the same set of land documents which is a basic requirement for grant in aid and affiliation. Authorities of the two colleges allege forgery by the other.

The Gadibrahma Mahila Mohavidyalya (Plus 2 college) was established in 1986 which have 256 seats in arts, 128 seats in science and 64 seats in commerce. During the establishment of this college, the authorities of this college had sought land on lease from the state government and 2.99 acres of land was given on lease in 1991. In the same year, another women’s college Gadibrahma Women’s College (Plus 3 college) was set up in the same premises.

Among the land documents furnished by the management of this college were documents relating to the land given on lease to the Mahila Mohavidyalya, as well as a plot belonging to a private person. The principal of Mahila Mohavidyalya, Mrs Arati Mishra, complained to all concerned over this. Mrs Mishra alleged that the land lease given to the Mohavidyalya had been fraudulently shown in favour of the Women’s College. The manually issued patta was in the name of the Women’s College.

This deprived the Mahila Mohavidyalya of getting permanent affiliation from the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha stated Mrs Mishra. The principal of Gadibrahma Women’s College, Ms Sasmita Mohanty, however refutes the allegations and said no fraud has been committed. “In fact we have requested the collector to intervene and demarcate the land to erect a boundary wall,” she added. Collector Mrs Yamini Sarangi has directed the tahsildar for demarcation of land. The tehsildar has inspected the plot and records.

Meanwhile the director of education has expressed reluctance to extend grant in aid etc to either of the colleges. Tehsildar Mr Padma Charan Sahoo confirmed that the lease was given in favour of the Mahila Mohavidyalya and there was no direction from the tehsil office of the land being given to the Women’s College. He added that by 30 January, he would demarcate and settle the dispute.