No panel to find VCs for KSOU, Hampi varsity

The delay by the higher education department in appointing search committees for the posts of VCs to the KSOU and the Kannada University, Hampi, may hit their work in the coming days.

The tenures of the VCs of the two universities - Mallika Ghanti of the Kannada University and Shivalingaiah of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) - are coming to an end in December 2018 and January 2019, respectively.

It has been a practice to appoint the search committee three months prior to the retirement of the VCs. But the same has not been done yet.

“The search committee includes academicians, representatives from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the state government. The committee needs at least three months to select a suitable candidate for the VC’s post. The deliberate delay in the appointment of the committee makes one suspect that there are irregularities in the selection process,” a senior KSOU official told DH.

KSOU recently succeeded in getting recognition back from UGC.

The recognition of the varsity was withdrawn by UGC, citing irregularities. Prof Ghanti got a four-month extension in September this year.

Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda told DH, “It is the duty of the principal secretary of the department to keep a check on the tenure of the VCs and intimate the government over the appointment of the committee in advance. Later, we can forward the file on the appointment to the Governor.”

Devegowda expressed helplessness as the government has still not found a full-time principal secretary for his department. “But the search comnmittees for the VCs will be appointed shortly,” the minister said.

Nagambika Devi, who holds the charge of principal secretary, Higher Education department, was not available for comments on the issue.