Governor sitting on report that indicted Honnappagol

Norms violated in promoting and appointing teachers: report

The four-year term of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University Vice-Chancellor, Suresh Honnappagol, ends on Wednesday, but no action has been taken against him for alleged irregularities.

An inquiry by the then Regional Commissioner Rajneesh Goel, ordered by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj and submitted in 2010, found that Dr. Honnappagol, officers and some members of the board of management violated rules and procedures of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the State government.

Charges

Mr. Goel inquired into three instances of alleged irregularities — filling backlog vacancies of five teachers, promotion of 16 teachers, and appointment of 62 teachers from 2006 to 2009. Rules regarding the UGC’s career advancement scheme were violated in promoting teachers and ineligible candidates, and the reservation roster was violated in their appointment, the report concluded.

These processes began when Dr. Honnappagol was the Registrar and continued even after he became Vice-Chancellor, it added.

“These acts of omission and commission on the part of the university have serious repercussions on the sanctity of this higher seat of learning and cause long-term damage to academic and financial health of the university,” Mr. Goel observed and recommended that the university cancel the appointments and initiate action against Dr. Honnappagol and five other members of the board of management for “criminal breach of trust”.

Response

While Dr. Honnappagol maintains that the government found nothing substantial in the report and hence didn’t act on it, Revu Naik Belamagi, Animal Husbandry Minister and Pro-Chancellor of the university, said the issue was pending with the office of the Governor.

“No major lapses were found. The inquiry was ordered after some employees filed false complaints. That is why the government found no merit in the recommendations of the report,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

“Our task ended with sending the report to the Governor. We have since ensured that all appointments are as per law. We ensured that the process of appointments and promotions of teachers was conducted afresh. Only the appointment of non-teaching staff and C and D group employees is pending,” the Minister said.

Mr. Goel heard nearly 30 complaints from employees during his inquiry.