Two days after the Governor and Chancellor of universities H.R. Bhardwaj extended the term of Bangalore University’s acting Vice-Chancellor N. Rangaswamy, government nominees in the university’s Syndicate and Academic council sought an explanation on the decision’s validity.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, a section of the Syndicate and Council members said that the extension of Prof. Rangaswamy’s term, which ended on December 21, was a clear violation of the provisions of the Karnataka State Universities Act 2000.
Council member H. Karan Kumar said that the Governor was the “custodian and implementing authority of the Act”.
“The order relieving Prof. Rangaswamy from the post should have come on December 21.
“However, the reason being cited for not relieving Prof. Rangaswamy is that the prospective successor — G. Mohan Kumar — will have a short tenure and it is not good enough. M. Khajapeer served as acting vice-chancellor for one day in 1990,” he said.
“Prof. Mohan Kumar’s appointment letter was ready on December 20. On December 21, Prof. Rangaswamy said that he is going to officially thank the Governor. The next day his tenure was extended,” Mr. Kumar said and added that Prof. Rangaswamy should reveal the names of the Syndicate members who had “urged the Governor for the extension of his term”.
Irregularities
The members also demanded the immediate removal of Registrar (Evaluation) R.K. Somashekhar for his alleged involvement in examination irregularities.
Syndicate member C.K. Jagadish Prasad said, “There is an organised lobby led by Prof. Somashekhar. Blacklisted principals were appointed custodians, and the Syndicate’s decision to change them has not been carried out.
He has extended the reopening date of classes under the semester scheme without the Syndicate’s approval.”
He questioned the case where the government sanctioned enhancement of intake in Jain College (B.Com from 160 to 360 and BBM from 160 to 400) without the college even applying for it.
“The Act does not give the government a say in this matter. This has caused losses to the university and profit to the college,” he added.
Another Syndicate member Manasa Nagabhushan sought government intervention in facilitating closure of B.Ed colleges going by the recommendations of the task force.
