Court surprised over a 'VC not knowing his class'

A Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka on Monday expressed its surprise over ‘a vice-chancellor who does not know his class.’

The remark came following the submission of the advocate for Dr S Maheshappa, Vice-Chancellor of the Visvevaraya Technological University, that the latter had indeed secured first class in his Bachelor of Engineering. The VC, in his affidavit filed into the Court just three days ago, had “admitted” that he had passed the course in second class.

The Court was hearing a petition charging Maheshappa with submitting false documents during his appointment as the VC for the technological varsity.

Substantiating the somersault, the counsel for the VC said Maheshappa had failed in two subjects in the ninth semester, but passed them when he appeared for the tenth semester examination. “The cumulative marks comes to 62.92 per cent. But he has secured second class if the marks of only the last semester are considered,” he said.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna said the relevant rules provide for considering the marks secured in the first attempt to determine the class.

“You have a Vice Chancellor who does not know his class. How can he show way to others?” Justice Sen remarked.

The Bench asked the counsels of both the parties to come clear on the criterion followed to determine the class when Dr Maheshappa completed his BE (1989). The matter has been adjourned to Friday.

BSY sons’ petition

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday adjourned the hearing of a petition by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s sons challenging the Lokayukta court directions to furnish documents pertaining to their business.

It also issued direction to the Lokayukta and the complainants to file a reply whether the Lokayukta Court is vested with the powers to impose such conditions.
The respondent had challenged the order stating that the Lokayukta Court has no such powers as per the Supreme Court directions.

While granting bail to the family members of Yeddyurappa, who are co-accused in the denotification cases, the Lokayukta Special Court had imposed several conditions directing them to produce the documents of transactions of Davalagiri Property Developers and Bhagat Homes Pvt Limited from the day the operations started till the date of complaint within seven days.

The court had directed that the documents have to be certified by qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary.

The documents to be submitted by them should include their personal bank account details, financial transactions during the last three years, balance sheets of their companies, financial transactions and bank accounts.

The court further stated that if the details are not submitted on the given time, their bail would get automatically cancelled.

Jusrtice Subhash B Adi has directed to file the reply by January 17.