Why should Commerce Professor be Principal of Science College?

Members question at UoM Academic Council meeting

Mysuru:  The question that bothered the academicians most was ‘Why should a Commerce Professor be the Principal of Science College?’

This was a subject of serious discussion at the Academic Council meeting of the University of Mysore (UoM) held yesterday at Crawford Hall. The question was posed by MLC Appaji Gowda, when the issue of granting autonomy to Maharani’s Science College came up. He wondered how a Commerce Professor Udayakumar could be made the Principal of Science College.

There are also instances where in a few Commerce and Arts Colleges have Professors with Science background as Principals. How is it possible for a Principal who does not have knowledge of the subject to run the College? Hence, it is better to appoint Principals with knowledge of the subjects to the respective colleges, he said.

Former in-Charge VC of UoM Prof. C. Basavaraju said that in many colleges there are no permanent Principals and in a few, Principals without proper qualifications have been appointed.

Reservation and roster system have not been followed in the appointments. The colleges which are not following the University rules are being granted autonomy, he charged and added that such colleges which violate the rules should not be given autonomy.

Another Member Prof. Mahadev said that though considerable time has been given to these colleges from time to time, they have not followed the guidelines. Hence, after giving two more years deadline, disciplinary action must be taken against them, he urged.

Many of the Members, replying to Appaji Gowda’s question, said that since the post of the appointment of the Principal is based on the seniority, it becomes inevitable to appoint them irrespective of the subject they are proficient in.

Regarding the reservation and roster system not being followed, a letter must be written to the Government and based on its direction, action must be taken, was the decision taken at the meeting.

Prof. Basavaraju strongly felt that just like the student strength is restricted to 30 or 40 students in the Post Graduate Departments in the University, the same restrictions must be applied for private colleges too.

However, the Members felt that since private educational institutions have the facilities to accommodate 60 students, it is not right to restrict the strength to 40 as there is no problems they face.