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Pressure mounting on VC to resign

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE April 23. The severe indictment of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore, S.N.Hegde, by the Lokayukta on corruption charges has caused ripples among academics and students.

During his second term as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hegde has been found guilty of "unlawful" gain for himself demanding and accepting $7,000 from the late K.L.Ramadas, Chairman of TTL College of Business Management, in return for using his authority to increase the student intake in the college. If lecturers, readers, and professors of the 77-year-old university are demoralised over the severe strictures made by the Lokayukta, the students are demanding Prof. Hegde's dismissal.

The Lokayukta's judgement has led to a severe loss of face for the Minister for Higher Education, G.Parameshwar, who had recently stood by the Vice-Chancellor. Dr. Parameshwar had virtually acquitted Prof. Hegde of all charges, based on the findings of a parallel inquiry conducted by the Government into the allegations. "Whether a vice-chancellor or a professor, his or her hands, mind and character should be clean," observed retired Vice-Chancellor of the university and noted Kannada litterateur, D.Javare Gowda.

Prof. De. Ja. Gow., as he is popularly known, recalled that most persons, who had occupied the post of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore had "sterling" character. "You can't expect a person who has been found lacking in integrity, to preside over a reputed seat of learning," said another academic. "It is sad that a post occupied by intellectual giants such as Kuvempu has been sullied in such a manner," he said.

Students are demanding Prof. Hegde's removal from the post. Pointing out that no Vice-Chancellor of the university had been indicted by the Lokayukta in such strong terms in recent times, the Vokkaligara Jagruthi Vedike of the university urged the Governor to remove Prof. Hegde from the post.

In a statement, the vedike president, J.Chandrashekar, said the Vice-Chancellor had not only received $7,000, amounting to Rs. 3.5 lakh, but had also admitted to receiving the money, at a press conference in a written statement. If Prof. Hegde was not removed as the Vice-Chancellor, the sangha threatened to organise public protest and social boycott of the "corrupt" Vice-Chancellor.

However, old-timers recall a case of irregularity on the part of the Vice-Chancellor of the university during the chief ministership of the late Kengal Hanumanthaiya.

"The then Vice-Chancellor was found to have claimed travel expenditure reimbursement from two agencies. The Chief Minister summoned the Vice-Chancellor and asked him to either resign or face an inquiry. The Vice-Chancellor chose to resign," an old-timer pointed out.

Meanwhile, the University Syndicate member, Mahadev, who had taken up the case against Prof. Hegde, said the latter should resign.

"He has a moral obligation to quit after the Lokayukta has found him guilty," said Dr. Mahadev.

"Or else the Governor should sack him for gross impropriety he has committed," he said.

In view of the recommendation made to the State Government by the Lokayukta that Prof. Hegde should not be allowed to hold the post, Dr. Mahadev said the Government could not overlook the recommendation. "For, allowing a corrupt person to continue as Vice-Chancellor will have widespread ramifications," he said.

With the Lokayukta holding Chairman of the Department of Business Management, B.R.Ananthan, also guilty of "unlawful gain for himself, even if it is not considered as a bribe", the vedike has demanded the suspension of the professor with immediate effect. Dr. Ananthan had allegedly accepted Rs. 4,000 from each of the 41 students of TTL College Management for guiding them in their project report.

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