Mysuru Uni VC stirs up row with principals’ recruitments, may face FIR under Atrocities Act

The controversial VC had reportedly received notices from the Higher Education department ordering him not to conduct recruitments.
Mysuru Uni VC stirs up row with principals’ recruitments, may face FIR under Atrocities Act
Mysuru Uni VC stirs up row with principals’ recruitments, may face FIR under Atrocities Act
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The Karnataka government has stalled the recruitment of principals to four constituent colleges of the University of Mysore by controversial Vice Chancellor KS Rangappa. TNIE​ reported that, despite repeated notices from the Higher Education Department, Rangappa had gone ahead and scheduled interviews for the posts of principals of the four colleges on November 23.

The report also stated that the Social Welfare Department has sent a note to the VC, warning him that an FIR would be filed against him if he went ahead with the appointments. Manivannan P, Secretary to the Department of Social Welfare, also reiterated this in a note to the Commissioner: “In case the V-C continues to go ahead with the recruitment, then you are here by directed to immediately inform police of the offence in violation of the SC/ST Atrocities Act.”

Objections to the appointments have been raised by the government on two grounds. Firstly, the government has issued a directive against fresh appointments until backlogs have been cleared by the Social Welfare Department.

The November 18 directive from the Higher Education Department thus states, “We have received complaints about filling some teaching posts despite there being a clear directive from the government not to proceed until the backlog issue is clarified by the Social Welfare Department. Taking serious note of it, we are directing and reminding you that all recruitment process started by you has been stopped.”

Secondly, there is a directive in place that the VC should not take any major administrative decisions  during the last six months of his term. Vice Chancellor Rangappa is due for retirement on January 13, 2017 leaving less than two months remaining in his term.

The process of appointing principals of Maharaja’s College, Yuvaraja’s College, UoM Evening College and UoM Fine Arts College begun by the VC is in violation of both these directives.

The insistence with which the VC is going ahead with the appointments has raised not only the ire of the government but also the hackles of the VC’s colleagues at the University. They suggest that the question of appointments should be left to the next VC who will take charge in January.

Rangappa has been embroiled in a number of controversies in the recent past. Just two days ago, Rangappa stoked another row by chairing a meeting of the university syndicate in which he was named a ‘Lifelong Distinguished Professor’, a title that comes with attendant benefits such as use of university resources. 

The Higher Education department decided not to accept the proceedings of that syndicate meeting which approved status to Rangappa.

A senior official of the department said, “Being the head of the syndicate, no V-C is allowed to place a subject relating to him and get it approved.”

Department officials are awaiting the minutes of that syndicate meeting, based on which objections will be raised, and sent to the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University, for due action to be taken.

In October, Rangappa drew flak from the Governor Vajubhai Vala for unauthorised appointment of teaching staff in Yuvaraja’s College on a contract basis. Vala had then recommended that the government take action against Rangappa.

The government cancelled the appointment of 48 teaching staff and asked the VC and the registrar to report to it on the issue. The registrar and the prinicipal of Yuvaraja College were subsequently suspended.

Prior to this, Rangappa had been embroiled in allegations of irregularities in purchasing computers during his stint as the VC of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in 2010. In September, the High Court provided him relief in this case, ordering a stay on the FIR filed on the complaint by A Khadar Pasha, financial officer of KSOU.

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