The Higher Education Department has sought the opinion of the Law Department on the recent recruitments by Visvesvaraya Technological University in the light of Article 371J.
Minister for Higher Education R.V. Deshpande informed the Legislative Council on Tuesday, in response to Leader of Opposition D.V. Sadananda Gowda.
Y.A. Narayanaswamy said that the government had promised the Council that interviews for about 400 posts would be stopped till reservations under Article 371J for people in Hyderabad Karnataka region are worked out. However, the university conducted interviews on December 8, two days after the Belgaum Legislature session ended. This amounted to breach of privilege of the House, he said and urged the Chairman to initiate action.
He alleged that the son of a director of technical education was one of the candidates selected, though the director is a member of the university syndicate. Mr. Sadananda Gowda urged Mr. Deshpande to have a relook at the appointments.
Mr. Deshpande said that he had convened a meeting of officials of the university and the government recently. The university claimed that the recruitment advertisement was issued prior to Article 371J and hence, it was not applicable. Therefore, he has sought the Law Department’s opinion.
Privilege motionGanesh Karnik moved a motion of breach of privilege against VTU Vice-Chancellor H. Maheshappa for going ahead with the recruitment process despite the government’s promise on the floor of the Legislative Council to halt the process till rules under Article 371J were framed.
Moving the motion, Mr. Karnik said that despite a direction, the Vice-Chancellor went ahead with the recruitment process and issued appointment orders.
Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy ruled that he has reserved orders in the matter.
