HC quashes order in varsity case: Registrar to return

Governor directs V-C not to hold meetings of authorities

The Dharwad Bench of High Court today quashed the state government's order appointing Chandrama Kanagali as registrar of the Karnataka State's Dr Ganagubai Hanagal Music and Performing Arts University (KSGHMPAU), Mysore.

Justice Billappa, who delivered the judgement on the writ petition filed by Chandrama on Friday, ordered that she be continued as the registrar (administration) of Karnatak University, Dharwad the post she held before being shifted to KSGHMPAU, Mysore.

The state government had issued order on September 1, 2014 appointing Chandrama S Kanagali as registrar of Music University and had appointed Y S Sidde Gowda as registrar (administration) of Kar- natak University, Dharwad.

Chandrama had challenged the order in the high court. The judge H Billappa had issued notices to the state government and the KUD, directing them to produce the original documents pertaining to the transfer of the registrars before the court.

Kanagali had been appointed as the registrar (administration) of KUD on September 6, 2013. After receiving the government order, Siddegowda had assumed charge at KUD on September 2, 2014.

V-C barred from holding meetings
Meanwhile, Governor and chancellor of all the universities in the state Vajubhai Vala has sent a letter (GS 5, KUM 2014 dated 22 September 2014) to Karnatak University directing vice-chancellor H B Walikar not to convene meetings of the authorities of the university such as the syndicate, academic council, finance committee, the board of studies, the faculties, the planning, monitoring and evaluation board and such other bodies as may by statutes be declared to be the authorities of the University, till the inquiry into the alleged irregularities against the vice-chancellor is completed and the report submitted by the inquiry commission.

Following allegations of irregularities, the governor had appointed a one-man commission headed by Justice Padmaraj to inquire into the allegations. Justice Padmaraj visited the university in the third week of September and collected documents and recorded statements of officials.

Meanwhile, vice-chancellor H B Walikar convened a meeting of the syndicate on September 23 to discuss some issues including the confirmation of appointments made by the varsity. However, the meeting did not take place as Iresh Anchatageri, K S Jayant and others who have launched a 'Save University' campaign alerted governor's office about the purported meeting and requested the governor to prevent the vice-chancellor from taking any important decisions till the inquiry is over.