Poll officer cautions varsity

 Deputy Commissioner Munish Moudgil, who is also the district election officer, has cautioned the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) that presenting a honorary doctorate to Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekhar amounts to violation of the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections.

VTU has decided to present the doctorate to Chandrashekhar during its 12th annual convocation on April 5 (Friday).

Moudgil said they had written to the VTU in this regard. The university has also been asked to ensure that Higher Education Minister and the university’s Pro-Chancellor C T Ravi does not make it to the dais during the convocation.

VTU Vice Chancellor H Maheshappa said the varsity was presenting the doctorate to Chandrashekhar in recognition of his social work and as he is an entrepreneur.

It will not influence the voters as he does not represent any political party and a letter in this regard has been written to the Election Commission. The Commission is expected to reply on Thursday, he said.

Ravi would also not attend the convocation and that too has been communicated to the Election Commission, Maheshappa said.