Sunday, Jun 13, 2010
Government's instructions on filing against case Shashidhara Prasad will be followed: VC

• Complaint to be based Rangavittalachar Commission report
• Shashidhar Prasad says he is yet to receive any communication

Mysore: With the State Government directing the University of Mysore to file a criminal case against the former Vice-Chancellor J. Shashidhara Prasad, the controversy surrounding violation of norms while recruiting teaching and non-teaching staff has taken a new turn.

It is said that for the first time the State Government had given the go-ahead for filing of criminal case against a former Vice-Chancellor. The nine-decade-old university has commenced the process to comply with the direction of the Department of Higher Education. Following the Government's direction, Vice-Chancellor V.G. Talwar has called an “emergency” meeting of the Syndicate on Tuesday to seek approval for filing the criminal case against Mr. Prasad.

Mr. Talwar told The Hindu that the university had received a fax communication from the Government and he had to comply with the direction.

He said that the university sought a copy of the report and detailed findings of the commission to find out lapses before the Syndicate meeting.

He said he had called Syndicate meeting on June 15 to discuss urgent and important issues and the issue pertaining filing case against the former Vice-Chancellor would be discussed at the meeting. Action would be taken only after getting approval from the Syndicate, he added.
According to sources, the department issued a notification on Thursday based on the findings of the Justice H. Rangavittalachar Commission appointed to inquire in to the alleged recruitment irregularities during the tenure of Mr. Prasad.

Report submitted to the Government states that 162 members were recruited illegally during the tenure of Mr. Prasad and he recruited faculty members violating reservation and University Grants Commission norms. The issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly by Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah, Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and Dhruvanarayan.

It is said that, in a separate order the Government had sought details on the appointments made during Mr. Prasad's tenure and their present status.

In addition to the department-wise break-up of appointments made, the State Government sought from the university residential addresses of the appointees and notices would be served to them. The State Government had issued directions to the university to file criminal charges against the former Vice-Chancellor as per section 8 (4) of the Karnataka Universities Act 2000.

Mr. Prasad refused to react as he had not received any communication from the Government with regard to direction issued to the university. “As a matter of natural justice, the Government should have made available a copy of Justice Rangavittalachar Commission report. I do not want to react, as I am not aware of the charges levelled against me,” he said.