The state government would restrict the number of honorary doctorates conferred by varsities to five per year, said Higher Education Minister C T Ravi. This will protect the sanctity of the doctorates, he added.
Initiating a debate on the Karnataka State Universities (Second Amendment) Bill, 2013, MLC Maritibbegowda said that the newly-established Kittur Chennamma University had conferred honorary doctorates to 15 people and the Tumkur Varsity to 18 people. This shows that the honorary doctorates were on sale. With no check from the government, the varsities are giving honorary doctorates as per their whims and fancies. Vice-Chancellors of such varsities should be dismissed for lowering the dignity of honorary doctorates, he added.
MLC Basavaraj Horatti said a varsity should not confer an honorary doctorate on a person who already has one.