Chancellor

Mr. Ashok Kumar Parija

Shri Ashok Kumar Parija, has a strong body of knowledge in Law and a distinguished experience in litigation. In 2019, he was appointed as the advocate general for the state of Odisha for his experience and expertise.

After obtaining his LLB Degree from Utkal University in the year 1984, he enrolled with Bar Council of Odisha as an advocate. As a young lawyer, Shri Parija was trained under the guidance of senior advocate Gangadhar Rath. With his sincerity, wit and passion to excel, Shri Ashok Kumar Parija became the senior advocate in the High Court of Odisha in 2003. He has appeared and argued matters pertaining to Constitutional law, corporate law, mining law and environmental law.

Not only Odisha, he has engaged to appear before the Supreme Court of India, as well as the High Courts of Delhi besides statutory bodies like Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, the National Consumer Forum, and the Mines Tribunal at New Delhi.

A major milestone in his career was his appointment as arbitrator by the Supreme Court of India. Apart from this spectacular achievement, he has been appointed as sole arbitrator by the High Court of Odisha in a matter involving the Steel Authority of India. He has engaged to appear in arbitrations conducted under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce, the Singapore Chamber of International Arbitration, renowned PSUs and many corporate groups.

Another feather in his cap, is that in 2011 – 2012, Shri Parija was elected as Chairman of the Bar Council of India, the apex regulatory body for the legal profession and education during his tenure. He took several steps to improve and bring qualitative changes in the legal education in India. He is also a member of the Bar Council of India delegations to the United Kingdom and Australia.

He has never forgotten his state and roots and for his love for motherland, he was elected as the president of Odisha High Court Bar Association. As a leader of the lawyers, he has initiated many philanthropic works for the betterment of the lawyers community in India and continues to work in this regard with his astounding simplicity, knack for detail and politeness.