'Registrars' appointment illegal'

They have contended that the appointments are in violation of the Karnataka State Universities Act 2000 (KSU)  as the government has not promulgated either an ordinance or made an amendment.

Further, according to the Act, vice-chancellors too have no powers to recommend names to the Government for the appointment. Till 2000, the Syndicate was the sole authority in the appointment of Registrars with rules allowing both academicians and senior officers of a super-time scale eligible for the post. But, the Act was changed in 2000 making only senior All India Services officers of super-time scale eligible for the post with the government appointing them.

One senior professor said that the entire appointment process was illegal. “It will only take a PIL for the entire episode to be mired in controversy. No law has been passed and the entire procedure is strange and bogus. The government has floundered in a big way,” he charged. He claimed that a resolution passed at the Inter University Board had no sanctity and was not a law.

Until 2000, vice-chancellors had the power to recommend names of three academicians and the Government could recommend three officers, with the Syndicate eventually empowered to select one candidate.

Another senior academician said that the Vice-Chancellor too cannot recommend names for the posts. “The Act says that it is entirely up to the government to appoint whoever it deems fit for the post. I am surprised that the government can be so ignorant and impetuous that it cannot promulgate a simple ordinance,” he charged.

‘Correct in spirit’

An eminent educationist said the appointment was correct in spirit and took a long-time coming. “The IUB had passed a resolution, and other panels too such as the former V-Cs forum and the N R Shetty report had recommended the appointment of academicians as registrars. It is technically illegal, but correct in spirit” he felt. 

However, he also expressed surprise that an ordinance was not promulgated at IUB as all the stakeholders including the secretaries, minister and vice-chancellors were present.

Prabhu Dev denies charges

BU VC Dr Prabhu Dev expressed surprise at his name being dragged into further controversy in con- nection with a Lokayukta inquiry.  Unconfirmed reports had said the V-C’s name was being referred to the Lokayukta by Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali regarding the alleged misappropriation of the 2007-08 scholarship money for SC/ST students. “I have been in-charge only for eight months and this has happened before my time. I honestly don’t know what the matter is about,” the VC said.

The Lokayukta is yet to receive any complaint against the VC. Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde told Deccan Herald that his only knowledge of the complaint was through the media.