HC notices State Government on Appointment of VC of Mysore University

The High Court issued a notice to the Karnataka government, University Grants Commission (UGC) and Prof K S Rangappa following a petition challenging his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore on January 11, 2013.

Justice D V Shylendra Kumar on also ordered notice to the search committee members- Dr H P Khincha, Dr G Thimmaiah, N R Shetty and M S Thimmappa upon a petition filed by K S Shivaram and others.

K S Shivaram of Mysore had challenged Prof Rangappa's appointment on the ground that he is allegedly involved in irregularities in conferring Ph.D degrees. Shivaram had alleged that Rangappa had flouted norms to admit his son to M.Sc in Molecular Biology and even accused him of plagiarism.

The appointment of KS Rangappa as the new vice-chancellor of Mysore University seems to be not through proper channel.

Rangappa was earlier the VC of KSOU and this was challenged in the court following reports of irregularities allegedly committed by him.

Course in Molecular Biology, even though he was not eligible for admission and the allegation regarding plagiarism. They further allege that Chancellor(Governor) had favoured Rangappa and appointed him to this post despite the issuance of notice on petition challenging his earlier appointment as VC of Karnataka State Open University. They have stated that Rangappa has no moral or legal right to hold and continue in the post of VC of Mysore University .

"If what the newly appointed vice-chancellor said is true, his appointment was not through a proper channel," said a former VC and academician requesting anonymity.

The appointment of Rangappa created controversy following the dissent note by one of the search committee members for selecting the new VC. It is said that even the file on the appointment of Rangappa was not cleared by the higher education minister.