Minister for Higher Education R V Deshpande is learnt to be in favour of appointing retired chief secretary S V Ranganath for the post of vice-chairman of the Karnataka Higher Education Council.

The post has been vacant since June 2013 due to various reasons, including the change in guard at the State. 

Prof S C Sharma resigned as the vice-chairman, following certain allegations against him. He had submitted the resignation to R V Deshpande. Prof Kaveriappa had also quit as the executive director, along with him. Both the posts have remained vacant. 

Rajneesh Goel, Principal Secretary to the Higher Education department, is heading the Council. It is learnt that Deshpande is inclined to appoint Ranganath who retired as chief secretary six months ago. But the minister is yet to discuss the matter with the chief minister. 

Deshpande did not mention specific reasons for not filling the posts, except pointing out at the just concluded Lok Sabha elections and the model code of conduct.