To select new Search Panel Member for VC appointment

Mysuru: The Offices of sixteen Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of Central Universities had remained vacant a year after they had demitted it. This news was reported in newspapers in the year 2015. The University of Mysore (UoM) seems to be following the trend going by the delay in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, nearly five months after Prof. K.S. Rangappa demitted office on Jan. 10, 2017.

It is interesting to note that the HRD Ministry, seeing the delay, decided to start the process of appointment at least a year in advance. How much it has been successful, in implementing it, is not known. However, the Karnataka Government does not seem to have learnt any lesson at all.

The wait for the appointment of new VC to the University of Mysore is getting longer. UoM has convened a special meeting of the Syndicate on June 2 to replace its nominee, UGC former Chairman Harish Gautam, who had expressed his inability to attend the Search Committee meetings to select the VC. The meeting will discuss and appoint a new member to the Search Committee.

A source, speaking to Star of Mysore said, “About three new Syndicate Members have come in place of the old committee. However, many aspirants for the VC post also will be attending the Syndicate meeting. But, once the topic of the nomination of the Search Committee member comes up, then they have to walk out of the meeting, as there will be a conflict of interest. The three who are aspirants for the VC post include the Acting VC Prof. Dayanand Mane, Registrar Prof. R. Rajanna and Registrar Evaluation Prof. J. Somashekar.”

A Syndicate member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the special Syndicate meeting is being held tomorrow and the focus will be on nominating a new Search Committee member.

An aspirant to the post of VC said, “The government and the Higher Education Department is being shown in a poor light by this undue delay in appointing the VC. The Higher Education Minister had said, “You will get one of the best VCs and you will get him on time.” But, the way it is being delayed shows the callous attitude of the Government and the Department.”

He also went on to say, “The University will not be affected directly. But unfortunately, the hundred-year-old University’s name is being besmirched because of the mudslinging between the Acting VC and the Registrar and not because of any other reason.”

UoM Review Committee

A four-member University Review Committee headed by former Vice-Chancellor Prof. N.R. Shetty and including former VCs Prof. V.B. Coutinho, Prof. Meena Chandavarkar and Prof. M. Mahadevappa visited the UoM recently for a review of the University between 2010-15.

A senior professor told the Committee that the Syndicate and Academic Council are filled up with people who have hardly any exposure to education. Hence, there should be proper representation from the academia to such bodies.

In fact, the first Gazette notification of the University of Mysore says that only persons of eminence from all walks of life should be nominated to the Syndicate, Senate and the Academic Council. Sadly, over the years, there is a dilution of standards, said a few professors who attended the meeting.

Discussing about the appointment of IAS or KAS Officers to the post of Registrar of Universities, a professor said, “This is nothing new. After all, the practice was there earlier. But one should realise that as it is, there are so many posts in the Government lying vacant due to shortage of officers. Besides, the bureaucrats will never understand the working of the University, the way a teacher understands. The experiment had failed but the Government still wants to try it again.”

Demand for Acting VC’s suspension

Meanwhile, BJP SC Morcha State Committee member Kodlur R. Sridhara Murthy has demanded the suspension of UoM Acting VC Prof. Dayanand Mane within a week, otherwise, they would launch an agitation in front of the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on June 8.

Addressing a press conference, here yesterday at Patrakarthara Bhavan, he alleged that Prof. Mane had written a letter to the Registrar to give appointment to five persons and since he rejected it, the VC was hurling unnecessary allegations against the Registrar. The VC had also written a letter to the Government that the temporary appointment for 97 posts was illegal and ordered for an inquiry.

The Women’s Commission of the University of Mysore in its report dated Sept.3, 2016, had recommended that the responsible posts given to Prof. Mane should be withdrawn as he was allegedly involved in sexual exploitation. In spite of this, he has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor, charged Sridhara Murthy.

Hence, he should be suspended from the post of VC, demanded Sridhara Murthy.