The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Crisis brewing in Bangalore University

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Thursday, Oct 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Crisis brewing in Bangalore University

Chitra V. Ramani

Term of in-charge Vice-Chancellor ends on November 20; UVCE Principal may get the post as per seniority

Syndicate members divided whether the incumbent should step down
‘As per rules, the term of Dean cannot be extended’

Bangalore: A controversy is brewing in the Bangalore University over the appointment of the next in-charge Vice-Chancellor.

The post is currently occupied by H.T. Rathod, Senior Dean, Department of Mathematics, who took over from H.A. Ranganath on August 18.

Dr. Rathod was appointed as in-charge Vice-Chancellor under Section 16 of the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000, according to which the senior-most Dean takes over that position.

This is because the Governor is yet to name a full-fledged Vice-Chancellor.

The term of Dr. Rathod as Dean will end on November 20.

A few Syndicate members are of the opinion that with the end of his term as Dean, the in-charge Vice-Chancellor’s post should go to the next senior-most Dean of the university.

In this case, the post will then have to go to K.R. Venugopal, principal of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE).

However, Syndicate members differ. While some maintain that Dr. Rathod should continue to hold the post, a few are of the opinion that he should step down and hand over the responsibilities to Dr. Venugopal.

A Syndicate member, on condition of anonymity, told The Hindu that during the Syndicate’s 78th meeting recently, a few members suggested that the term of all Deans of the university should be extended.

Issue not tabled

“They pressed for it as that would mean that Dr. Rathod can retain the post of in-charge Vice-Chancellor.

The issue was not even tabled at the meeting. Members just happened to slip it in between the discussions,” he said.

A.P. Ranganath, Syndicate member, said according to Section 21 of the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000, a professor in each faculty according to seniority shall by rotation, act as Dean of faculty for two years.

No legal ground

“Therefore, the term of a dean could not be extended.

There were no legal grounds even for suggesting that the term of deans should be extended,” he said.

Another Syndicate member, however, said the Act did not specify that if the term of the senior-most Dean ended while he was in-charge Vice-Chancellor, he should hand over the post to the next senior-most Dean.

“We cannot keep changing the in-charge Vice-Chancellor.

“Dr. Rathod is qualified to retain the post even if his term as Dean ends as he is one of the senior most professors in the university,” he said.

Dr. Rathod was unavailable for comment.

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