JOIN USPrincipal's lone stir for justice
He resorted to squat in front of the chamber of Dean and Director Dr Geetha K Avadhani, for nearly three hours, before leaving the premises.
College Principal Dr P S Kalhatagi was allegedly miffed at appointing another, his colleague Dr T N Manjunath, HoD, Physiology, as the chief examiner for the ongoing entrance exams for MS and MD courses conducted for the final year PG students of MBBS.
The exams that began on May 4 will conclude on May 9.
MMC and RI Dean and Director Dr Geetha K Avadhani told Deccan Herald, Kalhatagi had applied for leave from May 2 to May 6, as the latter was examiner for equivalent exams at Andhra Pradesh. Accordingly, the leave was sanctioned and Manjunath was appointed in the former’s place. Moreover, much before Kalhatagi applied for leave, he had been deputed as chief examiner, following the recommendation of the director to RGUHS. The alternative arrangement was made only after taking the consent of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), the director said.
The principal who arrived at the college on Saturday, was initially calm when the exams resumed at 9 am. The director herself was present at the exam hall. The trouble started when the director left the hall, with Kalhatagi insisting on signing the documents already signed by Manjunath. It was unbecoming of him, when he repeated his histrionics when the exams for the day concluded at 12 noon. He later sat in front of the office of the director, registering his protest demanding restoration of the authority.
“I contacted Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) V-C and Registrar, but the duo refused to accept sudden changes. However, they have asked to take prior permission, if inevitable, to change the examiner for the last paper scheduled on May 9”, the director said.
However, Kalhatagi was not to be seen at the place, where he was agitating from 4 pm, said the director when queried about the outcome.
Dean & director sole authority
Medical Education and District In-charge Minister S A Ramdas on Saturday announced that according to the by-law, the post of principal at every government owned colleges stands cancelled after becoming autonomous. The dean and directive of the institutions will be the sole authority, effective from May 10, confirmed minister, saying that he was unaware of Kalhatagi issue. According to the new rule, Kalhatagi will henceforth remain HoD Orthopaedics of the college. Apart from MMC and RI, the new rule comes into effect at the medical colleges in Bangalore, Bellary and Hubli-Dharwad.