JOIN USAppointment of VC to Gangubai music varsity challenged in High Court
The High Court on Tuesday ordered notices to the Higher Education
department and others in connection with a petition challenging the appointment of vice chancellor to the Karnataka State Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University.
The petitioner, G Mohan Kumar, had moved the High Court challenging the appointment of Dr Sarvamangala Shankar as vice chancellor of the varsity stating that she had been appointed to the post in violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.
Stating that under the UGC rules, any person appointed as vice chancellor of any university should have been a professor for 10 years, or should have worked as a researcher at a reputed institute, Kumar pointed out that the respondent had no such experience, and sought quashing of her appointment as vice chancellor.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri has ordered notices to the State government and Sarvamangala Shankar.
Petition dismissed
The High Court has dismissed a petition by an advocate and member of the High Court-appointed Karnataka Elephant Task Force (KETF) seeking directions to the government to seek the advice of KETF on ecological issues concerning elephants in the State.
The petitioner, Ravindranath Kamath, had moved the court seeking directions to the government that KETF still existed and that the State must consult it on sensitive matters.
Citing the 400kV transmission lines drawn between Mysore and Kozhikode, which cuts through the pristine forests of Kodagu district, he said nearly 50,000 trees would be felled for the project, and the region being an elephant habitat, the State should consult the committee before deciding on such projects.
Meeting sought
He submitted that he had written to Dr Raman Sukumaran, KETF Chairman, on February 16, 2014, to call an emergency meeting to address the issue, but the chairman wrote back expressing his doubts over the existence of the committee in the wake of the disposal of the petition.
He mentioned the HC directions dated October 8, 2013, in connection with a suo motu petition to protect elephants, which said, “The State is at liberty to seek guidance on recommendations made by the Task Force Committee and also consult the committee for any of its future course of action concerning elephants in the State so as to implement the recommendations accepted by the State in true letter and spirit.”
The division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri dismissed the petition stating that such a direction cannot be issued.