BANGALORE: Governor H R Bhardwaj said he is disappointed to step down from his post without seeing the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) get its own campus. His term ends on June 29.
Speaking after inaugurating Jeeva Raksha, a training programme organised by RGUHS in association with University of Utah, USA, to train master trainers in comprehensive emergency care and life support on Monday, he said: “V-C Dr Sriprakash is a lone fighter and nobody helped him develop the university, including the government. No Chief Minister supported the Vice-Chancellor. The present Medical Education Minister does not even turn towards it”.
Targeting Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, he said, “I have also told the Minister about the campus controversy, but he is not even bothered to settle it.”
Sriprakash said almost 10 months had elapsed after the foundation for a research centre was laid at Bheemanakuppe (near Big Banyan Tree). The university got clearance to start construction from Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) just a few days ago, he added.
Medical Council of India Chairman Dr Vedprakash Sharma, Registrar (Evaluation) Dr Sachidanand Babu, Dr Peter Tailac from University of Utah and his team members were present on the occasion.
The Governor, on earlier occasions too, has expressed his unhappiness over the government not supporting RGUHS.
Campus Controversy
RGUHS has been functioning in a rented building since its establishment in 1999.
The university decided to buy land to establish its own campus in and around Bangalore, but following the State government’s direction, it decided to set up the campus in Ramanagaram district along with a super specialty hospital.
However, following a dispute between land owners /farmers and the university, the project did not kick off.
Later, the university had approached all the parties in power in the State to get permission to shift the project to another location.
The issue has now reached the Supreme Court and is still pending.
Extended Term of VTU V-C Defended
Meanwhile, Bhardwaj defended his decision to give a two-year extension to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum, Vice-Chancellor H Maheshappa.
He told reporters, “The other two names in the panel were neither here nor there and I don’t want to delay the matter as I have to go by June 29.”
Reacting to the alleged controversy created by some of the members in the Search Committee, he said the member he had nominated has no allegations against him.
“Everybody appoints their people for the Search Committee and I appointed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman as my nominee,” he said.
Venugopal Unhappy Over Guv’s Choice
Meanwhile, University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE, Bangalore) Principal Prof K R Venugopal, whose name was in the shortlist, expressed unhappiness over the Governor’s choice.
Venugopal told Express, “As a candidate and a competitor, I am not happy with this appointment, regardless of whether I have merit or not.”
Venugopal, who was short-listed for the post of VTU V-C twice (in 2013 and 2014), added that his seniority and merit exceeds that of Maheshappa.