JOIN USThe University of Mysore (UoM) has suspended two of its professors for reportedly campaigning in favour of the Congress, violating the election model code of conduct.
The Mysuru deputy commissioner, also the district election officer, had directed the UoM to initiate action against professors B P Mahesh Chandra Guru and Aravinda Malagatti for publicly canvassing for the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, recently. Those in government service are barred from canvassing in favour of any party and also from propagating the ideology of a particular party.
At a programme titled 'Janarajakarana,' organised by some organisations, they had circulated pamphlets seeking support for Siddaramaiah and his government, in the main business areas of the city.
Following a letter from the election officer, UoM registrar D Bharathi had issued show-cause notices to the professors. As the response from the professors was not found satisfactory, they had been kept under suspension for conducting a probe, said the registrar.
As Guru has been suspended, associate professor C K Puttaswamy has been appointed as the chairman of the Department of Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication. Malagatti is a professor in Kuvempu Institute for Kannada Studies. He is also the chairman of the Kannada Sahitya Akademi.