Secrecy norms trashed in varsity appointment

Bangalore University flouts the law by hiring a retired officer in place of its registrar, and allowing him to sign marks sheets and degree certificates. Syndicate members are outraged

Secrecy norms trashed in varsity appointment

Bangalore University flouts the law by hiring a retired officer in place of its registrar, and allowing him to sign marks sheets and degree certificates. Syndicate members are outraged

Bangalore University has violated the law by appointing a 'special officer' along with its registrar of evaluation, and giving him work considered sensitive and confidential.

Vice-chancellor Dr Prabhu Dev appointed Syed Jamal, a retired government employee, to overview the examination process last month. Jamal is authorised to sign marks cards and issue provisional degree certificates, traditionally something only the registrar of evaluation can do.

"The examination process is confidential, and bringing in a de-facto registrar is just not right," said Prof Madaiah, a syndicate member.

Prabhu Dev claims he has taken special permission from the syndicate. In fact, the syndicate has no authority to give such permission.

With the special officer supervising everything, the registrar's post has become redundant.

S K Laxman, registrar of evaluation, has gone on long leave, and the buzz is that he could quit.

"I am a KAS officer and the government can transfer me anywhere, but I am not asking for any transfer," Laxman told MiD DAY.

On the special officer's appointment, he was non-committal and just said it was unusual.

When MiD DAY met him at his office, Jamal said he was not overruling the registrar. "I am working under him, and there should be no confusion," he said.

Declining to comment on the controversial re-valuation of Phaniraj Kashyap's paper, he said, "There is no irregularity in it."

Revaluation of all the papers was complete and the results would be announced shortly.
However, he had no reply to the question how the university could give re-valuation results to a judge's son when thousands of others were waiting.

What could happen if appointment is contested?
University statutes are framed on the basis of the Karnataka University Act. Any violation of statutes could attract legal action. The court would consider the gravity of the case before awarding punishment. Signing of marks cards by an unauthorised person could be treated as forgery. At the very least, the court could cancel appointments and orders that violate the statutes.

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