Karnataka Guv directs RGUHS to keep in abeyance Jan 16 Syndicate elections

Bengaluru: The Governor and Chancellor Thawarchand Gehlot has directed Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to keep the elections to pick members from Senate to Syndicate in abeyance following the allegations of irregularities in the elections held recently.

The Senate members of the University elect three members to the Syndicate. The Senate to Syndicate election, which was scheduled for January 16, is kept in abeyance following the orders from the Governor, for until further orders.

As per the information available with DH, two candidates, who had contested for Senate elections held on December 10, 2024, have alleged irregularities in the elections and filed a petition before the Governor demanding for re-election. 

According to the copy of the complaint accessed by DH, the December 10 elections were conducted allegedly in violation with RGUHS statutes.

“The election process was conducted in violation of the statute governing the conduct of election. The entire election was rigged as bogus voting was rampant in most of the election booths. Ineligible persons were allowed to vote, voters were added to the list even after the last date, impersonation reported at several centres, duplication of voting reported, duplicate Identity Cards were used while voting,” reads the complaint.

“We have even submitted the relevant documents to the government,” said petitioners. They further requested the Governor to issue directions for the vice chancellor to re-do the list of voters who are eligible to vote as on November 26, 2023, and also to conduct fresh elections to the post of senate members strictly in compliance of the statute governing the conduct of election.

Senate elections at the RGUHS are considered to be most prestigious as voters and even the contestants are from the medical profession. There are several politicians and academicians, who were from the medical profession, elected for Senate and from there to Syndicate. Former BJP Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan was one among them. Even current Vice Chancellor Dr M K Ramesh is a Senate member. Bangalore University Vice Chancellor Dr Jayakara S M was elected from the Senate to Syndicate.  

“That sanctity of elections has not remained anymore. Whoever enters the Senate and Syndicate have their own agenda,” said a former member of both the bodies.

For the RGUHS Senate, 10 members will be elected. Five each from professors and teachers (but not professors) categories. Rest of the members are nominated. All the Senate members elect three members to Syndicate.  

Petitioners advocate, T Krishna, said, “We have challenged the entire process of the election held for Senate before the Governor as he is the Chancellor for the RGUHS and his decision is final as per the Act.”