The Vivekananda Institute of Technology (VIT) has outrightly refuted the Visveswaraya Technological University’s (VTU) statement that the institute does not have a qualified principal.
The VIT management has said that its present principal, Bangara Setty Shankarananda, did his BE in electronics and communication branch in 1973 from Mysore University, post graduation in microwave engineering in June 1977 from the University of Kerala and PhD from IIT, Bombay in 1993.
The institute further stated that the position of the principal of the college, right from its inception, has been occupied by a person from the technically qualified stream as per AICTE requirements.
At no point of time, the principal of this college was from basic or applied sciences’ discipline, or any other discipline, other than engineering or technical background. The institute has expressed its surprise on how the VTU provided such information without verifying the records properly.
In a written reply to Prof N S Nadigar’s RTI application, the VTU had said that 17 engineering colleges affiliated to it have principals who do not have basic engineering in undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate degrees and VIT’s name figured prominently in the list.
The VTU had said that D Chandrashekar, principal, VIT, held BSc, MSc and PhD degrees, which are not basic engineering degrees. Based on VTU’s written reply, Deccan Herald had carried a report on May 16, 2013 under the title, “17 engineering colleges ‘err’ on principal’s qualification.”
