JOIN USPanel finds irregularities in KUD appointments
The Justice B Padmaraj Commission of Inquiry constituted to probe the allegations against Karnatak University Vice- Chancellor H B Walikar has found gross irregularities in the recruitment of faculty to various departments.
The commission in its report, a copy of which is with Deccan Herald, has stated that recruitments were made in a hurried manner in violation of regulations. The recruitment process held in September this year, also violated the model code of conduct in place for Legislative Council polls for graduate constituencies, the report stated.
Last month, Governor Vajubhai Vala, who is the chancellor of all universities in the State, had appointed a one-man commission of inquiry headed by Justice B Padmaraj to probe into charges of irregularities, abuse of office and violation of norms among others during Walikar’s regime.
The panel, which went into recruitments made to the post of 17 assistant professors and professors to various departments in September, found that they were made in “hot haste” and caveat petitions were filed to insulate the recruitments from being challenged in courts. The list of selected candidates were approved in a syndicate meeting and on the same day appointment orders were issued. Even the selected candidates joined services the same day, the probe by the commission has revealed.
“The entire recruitment process followed by the vice-chancellor at the fag end of his tenure besides being done in a hurried manner, appears to be highly unfair and unjust giving rise to several suspicions. They have been made in clear violation of the directions issues by the chancellor and in clear contravention of model code of conduct issued by the Election Commission,” the report stated. The chancellor’s office in 1998 had issued guidelines specifying the manner in which recruitments and appointments be made.
“The vice-chancellor should have kept his hands off the recent recruitment process in view of the specific directions issued by the chancellor and also when the model code of conduct issued by the election commission were in force. But, unfortunately the vice-chancellor hurried through the recruitment process and also got caveat petitions for the benefit of candidates selected by the board of appointments, in order to insulate their challenge before a competent court,” the report said.
Based on the Justice Padmaraj’s initial report, the Lokayukta police registered an FIR against Walikar and 10 others under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Tuesday.