In the normal course, a new vice-chancellor should take charge on the day when the term of the outgoing vice-chancellor ends so that the administration of the centre of higher learning is not affected. But, of late, this is not happening in many universities in the State and the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) is not an exception.
The search panel to find an able academic committed to striving honestly and sincerely for the development and progress of the university and maintain integrity both in public and personal life is yet to be constituted, while the VTU is being managed through an ad hoc arrangement with V. Sridhar being appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor on May 5.
According to sources, the VTU has recommended the names of M.S. Shivkumar and H.C. Nagaraj, Principal, NITTE Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, from the Executive Council and Academic Senate, respectively, to the four-member search panel.
However, though a few names are in circulation, the State government and the Raj Bhavan are yet to name their representatives to the panel. The sources said that the panel could be constituted in a week.
Incidentally, Mr. Shivkumar is the former Registrar of the VTU. The VTU, which until recently was regarded as the richest university in the State with more than Rs. 500 crore corpus funds in its account but is now struggling to pay wages of its staff, is mired in a series of irregularities and mismanagement of finances; eventually leading to the suspension of the former Vice-Chancellor H. Maheshappa before he could complete his term.
Despite the allegations of irregularities against him, the former Governor and Chancellor H.R. Bharadwaj continued the services of Dr. Maheshappa for a second term, which was to end on June 30 this year.
Governor and Chancellor of universities Vajubhai Vala, on March 14, following a report on irregularities during Dr. Maheshappa’s term, submitted by a One-Man Fact Finding Committee, headed by the former High Court Judge K.N. Keshavanarayana, suspended him (Dr. Maheshappa).
Subsequently, the Governor nominated the then Registrar (Evaluation) H.G. Shekharappa as vice-chancellor in-charge the same day with immediate effect. As the then Registrar K.E. Prakash was relieved a few days later as the Management of Sridevi Institute of Technology, Mangaluru, requested him to return to his parent institution, Dr. Shekharappa was holding charge of all the top four offices of vice-chancellor, Registrar (Administration) and Registrar (Evaluation) and Finance. However, he resigned from all the four posts in one stroke on May 3.
The sources told The Hindu that Dr. Shekharappa resigned as he was under pressure to appoint a particular person as Registrar, but he (Dr. Shekharappa) declined to walk on the dotted line maintaining that the Registrar of the VTU could be appointed only under Section 15(1) and that he would not misuse Section 14(6) of the VTU Act and overrule the rights of the Executive Council on the selection of candidate for the post of Registrar.
However, the Chancellor, while accepting his resignation, advised him to serve as Registrar (Evaluation), Registrar (Administration) and Finance Officer in-charge till further orders. Thereafter, Dr. Sridhar appointed the former member of the university’s Executive Council H.N. Jagannatha Reddy as Registrar exercising his powers under Section 14(6) of the VTU Act, only to rake up a fresh and unexpected controversy, which however, is a different story.
Strong contender
Now, all eyes are on the coveted post of the vice-chancellor and there are a good number of aspirants who are reportedly engaged in lobbying through their contacts in and outside the government, where sources close to Dr. Sridhar have said that he (Dr. Sridhar) cannot be ruled out as a strong contender.
Already, Dr. Sridhar is stated to be spending more time in Bengaluru than at Jnana Sangama, the administrative headquarters of the university in Belagavi.
Under the circumstances and the alleged sordid happenings in the VTU, the search panel will have a great responsibility in finding an ideal vice-chancellor who is focussed on putting the university on the path of progress and restore its lost glory at the earliest. After all, it is the question of career of thousands of students, remarked a former vice-chancellor.
