Probe against two more Syndicate members

Lokayukta acts on complaint

Two members, Y A Narayana Swamy and D Ayyappa, as Chairmen of Local Inquiry Committees (LIC) had reportedly recommended colleges despite the colleges not making a formal application.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said, “We received a complaint over a week back. We have decided to launch an inquiry.”  The inquiry comes after a complaint to the Lokayukta by former Bangalore University academy council member and convener of the Karnataka State Voters Forum, Vasudeva Murthy. He had alleged that Narayana Swamy and Ayyappa, both Government nominees to the Syndicate had accepted bribe as Chairmen of LIC to recommend the colleges.

Vasudeva Murthy said that the duo recommended colleges that had not applied for affiliation and new courses, whichwas a blatant violation of the Karnataka State Universities Act. Murthy said, “It is a blatant case of misuse of power and there is also Prima Facie evidence case of corruption against them.”

 Recently, at a highly charged meeting of the syndicate, these recommendations were rejected after it was known that Narayanaswamy and Ayyappa had violated the rules. Incidentally V A Narayana Swamy, an independent MLC and Ayyappa themselves had suggested at a syndicate meeting held on June 4 that an inquiry be held by a committee headed by a retired High Court Judge.

‘We will wait for Lokayukta report’

Here’s what the varsity Vice-Chancellor, Dr Prabhu Deva had to say:

“I was not aware of the Lokayukta inquiry against the two. It is news to me. But our official position is that despite their recommendations the academic council did not approve it. We will wait for the Lokayukta report to come out. If the Lokayukta recommends any action we will be the first to take action. Like in the Jayalakshmi Devi case where the moment Lokayukta recommended action against her, the government sent us the notification and she was suspended.”