Karnad, Siddalingaiah nominated for VC search committee

Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad and writer Siddalingaiah are the choice of the government for the committees to be set up for selecting vice chancellors for Kannada University and Janapada University. 

The incumbent vice chancellors of these two varsities would be retiring in July this year, according to sources.

The search committees to be set up by the government must have a nominee from the governor, University Grant Commission besides the government. The recommendation nominating Karnad and poet and former MLC Siddalingaiah has been sent to Raj Bhavan as well as the UGC. While the term of the vice chancellor for Kannada University is three years, it is four years for the VC of Janapada varsity.

Governor Vajubai Vala, who is also the chancellor of state varsities, is yet to approve the appointments to be made to six other varsities. The government forwarded the panel of names to the governor on May 6. However, he has not yet expressed his mind.

The government, in consultation with the governor, has to appoint vice chancellors.

The Siddaramaiah government is yet to make up its mind for nominations to syndicate of Bangalore University, University of Mysore and Karnataka State Open University. Six members are to be nominated for Bangalore and Mysore varsities and five for KSOU, sources said.

The government is also dragging its feet on appointing academic council members to the Mysore and Bangalore universities. As many as nine members have to been appointed for each university, the sources said.

Former chief secretary S V Ranganath, recently appointed as vice chairman to the Karnataka Higher Education Council, would be holding the first meeting of the Council on Wednesday. Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande would chair the meeting.