Karnataka HC orders audit of UAS Dharwad, directs VC to adhere to statute in appointment of Comptroller

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court directed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of Karnataka to conduct a financial audit of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad for the period 2018-2025.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed this order noticing that the accounts and expenses of UAS had been scrutinised by an in-charge comptroller for nearly seven years (2018-2025) and the same “does not inspire confidence and, in fact, is suspicious.” The court further directed CAG, Karnataka to take action in terms of the applicable law if any irregularities are found during the audit.

The petitioner Shivaputra M Honnalli, who joined the service in March 1994, was promoted as Deputy Comptroller in March 2013. The petitioner had been working as in-charge comptroller at the UAS from June 2, 2018. The petitioner contended that there has been a consistent attempt to dislodge him from this post and this was his third writ petition. He challenged the state government order dated September 6, 2025 appointing Pooja Doddamani, Chief Accountant in the PWD, Dharwad, in his place.

It was argued on behalf of the petitioner that under section 31(9)(a) of the Universities of Agricultural Sciences Act, a Comptroller must be a full-time officer appointed by the Vice-Chancellor and thus, the state government appointing Pooja Doddamani was illegal.

After perusing the provisions under the statute, the court noted that there was no panel recommended by the Vice Chancellor to the Board of Management in the appointment of Pooja Doddamani. Similarly, the petitioner too was not a qualified person, the court observed.

“It is rather shocking that the petitioner who was appointed as an in-charge Comptroller, which could not have been for more than six months at the most, and even if a Comptroller is appointed by following the procedure under Clause (a) of Subsection (9) of Section 31, the tenure of the Comptroller being not more than four years, the petitioner is continued to discharge his role as a Comptroller from the year 2018 till now for nearly seven years. The above aspect does not inspire confidence and, in fact, is suspicious,” Justice Suraj Govindaraj said, noting that the petitioner has been challenging any other appointment made by the state, apparently with the active support of the Vice-Chancellor.

The court further said, “It is not permissible for the Vice-Chancellor to appoint a Comptroller in such a manner as done and the post of the Comptroller being an essential and important post at the University dealing with all financial aspects, I am of the considered opinion that there is required to be an audit, made by the Comptroller and Audit General of Karnataka into the affairs of the University from the year 2018 till date to ascertain if there is any financial mismanagement and if any such financial mismanagement is found, to take appropriate action.”

The court has directed the Vice Chancellor to follow the procedure for the appointment as prescribed in the statute and said that until then Pooja Doddamani shall discharge her duties as the in-charge comptroller, strictly in accordance with law.