BANGALORE: As many as 168 teaching posts created and filled by Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Belgaum in 2013 may come under the government’s scanner.
In its report, the one-man commission of retired IAS officer and former Additional Chief Secretary G Krishna Rau, appointed by the state government to conduct a preliminary enquiry over the appointments based on issues raised by several elected representatives, has stated that- “This is a fit case to order for a detailed inquiry to fix the responsibility and to take action against the persons concerned.”
A copy of the report is available with the Express.
In August 2011, VTU had sent a proposal to create 168 teaching posts after its Executive Council (EC) signed a resolution regarding the same and the government accorded its approval in July 2012. Following this, the varsity issued advertisements calling for applications in March 2013.
However, the issue was raised in the legislative council on August 17, 2013 and legislators alleged that there had been irregularities and malpractice in the recruitment of faculty.
The higher education minister had then assured the house that the recruitment process will be suspended and the university was accordingly directed to do the same.
On August 18, 2013, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) also clarified that the university should keep the process under suspension till government orders are issued prescribing the reservation for Hyderabad Karnataka region after the region was granted special status as per Article 371 (J) f the Constitution.
While the government’s orders prescribing the quantum of reservation for various institutions, including VTU were issued on November 6, 2013, the Higher Education Department, on November 25, 2013 informed all universities to comply with the mandatory requirements prescribed in a government order.
VTU, however, sought permission to continue with its requirement process vide two letters dated November 14 and December 2 last year. The report states: “Taking advantage of the government’s silence on its letters, VTU went ahead with recruitment. The Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department reported that he attended the VTU executive committee meeting and gave a dissent when it decided to go ahead with recruitment.”
The Krishna Rau committee was constituted based on an Express report.