Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor N. Prabhu Dev’s exit from the post is expected to be a smooth affair, according to sources in the Raj Bhavan here. The sources told The Hindu on Sunday that the Governor will, in all likelihood, accept the resignation submitted to him on Saturday by Dr. Prabhu Dev.
The Vice-Chancellor met the Governor and expressed willingness to take up the post of the chairman of the newly formed Karnataka Health Systems Commission. “As that (the new post) is also a full-time job, he will not be able to continue as vice-chancellor,” the sources said.
The next step
Meanwhile, the university administration is preparing for the eventuality of Dr. Prabhu Dev getting the green signal to quit. University officials said that a list of the senior-most deans in Bangalore University had been sent to the Raj Bhavan for the Governor to appoint an acting vice-chancellor.
Finance Officer N. Rangaswamy is said to be a front runner for the post.
According to the rules of the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000, the acting vice-chancellor can be in charge for a month or until a permanent arrangement is made by the Chancellor.
For the latter to happen, a search committee needs to be formed to initiate the process of the appointment of the next vice-chancellor.
The committee will consist of a member each nominated by the university’s Syndicate, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the State government and Governor. The committee will submit its recommendations to the government, after which the government will convey the name of the eligible candidate to the Governor, who will make the appointment.
Not the first
If he quits, Dr. Prabhu Dev will not be the first to do so while in office. The previous Vice-Chancellor H.A. Ranganath demitted office before his tenure ended to take up the post of director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
There were two acting vice-chancellors after Prof. Ranganath quit office. Dr. Prabhu Dev is the 16 full-time Vice-Chancellor of the university.
