Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru.
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: As many as 30 candidates are in the race for the post of the Vice-Chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
Dr Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education and Dr Bhagavan, Senior Professor at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences are the frontrunners for the post. Meanwhile, incumbent VC Dr M K Ramesh is also reportedly keen on getting an extension.
The RGUHS VC search committee headed by the former Rani Channamma University VC scheduled to hold its first meeting on February 7.
Sources said that both Dr Sujatha and Dr Bhagavan were not lacking in political support.
While Dr Sujatha’s husband Prakash Rathod is a senior Congress leader and former MLC, Dr Bhagavan reportedly has Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in his corner.
A source pointed out that incumbent VC Dr Ramesh, who had the backing of the RSS and ABVP, was likely to get an extension for at least two months.
If selected, Dr Sujatha would be the second woman to become the Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, after Dr S Kantha, the first Vice Chancellor of the health university.
However, given that Dr Sujatha hails from a backward community, the same one that the incumbent VC belongs to, she may lose out on the job should the government and Governor choose to appoint a candidate from another caste.
Dr Ramesh’s term is slated to end on February 14, and although efforts are being made to grant him an extension, experts familiar with the rules pointed out that there were no provisions allowing for an extension on the incumbent VC’s term.
“The incumbent VC must hand over the reins either to the seniormost Dean or the Registrar,” said a former VC.