Third acting VC to be appointed by tomorrow; Regular VC appointment a mirage

Mysuru: The term of the current Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore (UoM, Prof. Dayananda Mane is going to end tomorrow. A new Acting VC will be appointed to this century-old University even as the appointment of a regular VC looks like a mirage. This is the third time in this year that the University will be seeing a third VC.

There are four contenders for the Acting VC’s post. In the absence of a regular VC, it is the senior most Dean who will be appointed as the VC. Former VC Prof. K.S. Rangappa demitted office on Jan.10, 2017. Since there was a delay in the appointment of a regular VC, Prof. Yashwanth Dongre held charge as VC for just over a month from Jan.11 to Feb.18.

Then it was the turn of Prof. Dayananda Mane, who is now holding the office and whose term is going to be over tomorrow. Hence, one more Acting VC has to be appointed.

Four names recommended: The list of four names of the Deans of various faculties has already been sent to the Governor’s office, according to sources in the UoM. The four names include Education Faculty Dean Dr. Ningamma C. Betsur, Law Faculty Dean Prof. C. Basavaraju, Commerce Faculty Dean Prof. Ayesha Begum and Science and Technology Faculty Dean Prof. T.K. Umesh.

According to sources in the University Administration Branch, Dr. Ningamma has not even completed five years in her service. She is not even eligible to be the Dean, but since there is shortage of Professors with service, she was made the Dean of Education Faculty, said the source, which is a violation of UGC guidelines. Similarly, Prof. Ayesha Sheriff has been a Dean of Commerce just for six months now and she will not be eligible to become the Acting VC. That leaves two other names Prof. Basavaraju and Prof. Umesh.

A senior Professor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Star of Mysore that Prof. Basavaraju was Dean from May 2016 to Oct. 2016 and since there were charges against him, his Deanship was removed and in his place, Prof. Ramesh was appointed who was Dean of Law Faculty from Oct.2016 to July 2017 and once again Prof. Basavaraju was appointed as the Dean of Law Faculty.

Hence, it cannot be said that Prof. Basavaraju is the senior most Dean as he suffered a break in service. “How can two persons occupy the same post is the question doing the rounds. Prof. Basavaraju cannot claim that he was the Dean during Oct. 2016 to July 2017 when already Prof. Ramesh was the Dean. Since, the senior most Dean is appointed as the Acting VC, the claim that he is senior does not hold water,” said another senior Professor who had served as the Dean.

That leaves Prof. Umesh for the post. According to sources, he has been the Dean from Sept.2016 and his Deanship will end only in Sept. 2018. However, the ball is in the Governor office’s court. Whomever the Governor decides will be final and everyone is keeping his or her fingers crossed.

A source in the Administration Section said that the decision will be taken by this evening or by tomorrow to appoint the third Acting VC of the UoM.

Regular VC

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the State Government is caught in a dilemma as to whether to recommend the same three names for the regular VC post for UoM (it may be recalled that the Government had strongly recommended the name of Prof. C.P. Siddashrama, which the Governor had rejected twice) or should send a new list. Hence, it has been decided to seek the opinion of the Legal Experts.

Asked when a new VC will be appointed, a former Vice-Chancellor said that it will not happen any time in the near future and the University of Mysore unfortunately has to do with Acting Vice-Chancellors for some more time.