Karnatak varsity gets fifth registrar in four years

Siddegowda takes charge amid drama

Karnatak University vice-chancellor H B Walikar has the rare distinction of getting five persons work as registrar (administration) of the university during his four year term. Walikar’s term comes to an end in October this year.

On Tuesday, Y S Siddegowda who was registrar (adm) of the Gangubai Hanagal University of Music and Performing Arts (GHUMPA) assumed charge as the new registrar (adm) of Karnatak University amid high drama. The higher education department on Monday issued orders appointing Siddegowda as KU registrar and transferring KU registrar Chandrama Kanagali as registrar GHUMPA, Mysore.

Siddegowda arrived at Karnatak University on Tuesday morning and waited for an hour for Chandrama Kanagali to come and hand over the charge. Chandrama did not turn up and efforts to reach her on the telephone also failed. Siddegowda assumed office in Chandrama’s absence.

Siddegowda told reporters that it would have been a courteous gesture on the part of Chandrama to hand over the charge. “The government has transferred me here. KU vice-chancellor H B Walikar too issued letter directing me to take charge. Accordingly, I have assumed the new office,” he said.

Later, V-C Walikar told reporters the outgoing registrar handing over the charge to the new registrar was a formality. With the government’s orders in hand, there was no need for

Siddegowda to wait for the outgoing registrar to hand over charge, he said.

The change of guard at the registrar’s office did not come through smoothly. There was rift going on between vice-chancellor Walikar and registrar Chandrama Kanagali. Walikar said, he had recommended to the state government either to send Chandrama on long leave or replace her with another person.  

“Chandrama was facing charges of claiming money by producing fake bills for repair works of a car and misplacing the answer sheets of MPhil examination. The university syndicate had appointed a committee to inquire into the matter. The committee held that free and fair inquiry was not possible as Chandrama was holding the key post,” he said.

Therefore, I recommended to the government to ask her go on long leave or replace her with another person,” he said.

Who had sat here earlier

Siddegowda, a professor in Social Works is the fifth person to occupy the registrar’s chair during Walikar’s term as V-C. S B Hinchigeri, S A Patil, G B Nandan and Chandrama Kanagali has earlier served as registrars and the chair of registrar had become a musical chair.

Hinchigeri who was registrar had been replaced by S A Patil on the morning of May 31, 2012 and same evening Hinchigeri had managed to get another order appointing him as the registrar. S A Patil who had to quit, came back soon aided by a court order. On December 31, 2012 professor G B Nandan was appointed as registrar. The court stayed his appointment on January3, 2013 and S A Patil returned as registrar.

It was G B Nandan again as registrar with the government issuing fresh orders appointing him on January 31, 2013. The government-appointed Chandrama Kanagali as registrar on September 7, 2013.

She was replaced by C Rajshekhar on August 5, 2014 through a Syndicate resolution. However she came back the next day. The government finally issued order appointing Siddegowda as registrar on September 1, 2014.

It is to be seen how long Siddegowda will continue.