House panel may issue arrest warrant against University of Mysore VC

The privilege committee of the Karnataka Legislative Council is all set to issue arrest warrants against University of Mysore vice chancellor K S Rangappa and former Karnataka State Open University vice chancellor M G Krishnan.

The duo, despite repeatedly being summoned, have failed to appear before the Committee, which is probing into the reported violations by UoM and KSOU. The Legislative Council Secretary V Sreesh on April 29 issued a final notice to both Rangappa and Krishnan to appear before the committee without fail, at 11 am on May 4.

Chairman of the Committee, BJP MLC Go Madhusudhan, said that it was decided to issue arrest warrants against the duo, if they failed to comply with the final notice.

Medical certificate

But even as the Committee was readying itself to issue directions to the Director General and Inspector General of Police for execution of the arrest warrant, Rangappa submitted a medical certificate stating that he has injured his leg, and hence will not be able to appear before the Committee.

Madhusudhan however said the Committee was mulling over rejecting the medical certificate, and asking Rangappa to appear before the medical board to prove his claims.

“Rangappa has furnished a medical certificate seeking to be excused yet again. Previously too he had made similar claims, but the Committee has evidence that he had made false claims about his whereabouts. The medical certificate has been issued by a private hospital and hence the Committee will reject the same. Rangappa will be asked to appear before a medical board. A final decision will be arrived at on May 4 after consulting the legal expert,” he added.

If Rangappa is directed to appear before the medical board, then he will have to be examined by the Mysuru district surgeon, who is the chairman of the board. It is however imminent for Krishnan to appear before the Committee, if he does not wish to attract contempt of the Committee.

Breach of privilege

Rangappa and Krishnan have come under the scanner for committing breach of privilege of the legislature by not taking approval of the Legislative Assembly and Council for the different statutes constituted by the two varsities.  Madhusudhan said that the two varsities had framed 70 to 80 statutes without seeking the approval of the legislature.

Rangappa and Krishnan were first summoned by the committee in the month of January, after a privilege motion was moved by MLCs Arun Shahapur and Ganesh Karnik against UoM and KSOU on November 11, 2015.