Governor shifts varsity’s convocation to Raj Bhavan

Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj, the Chancellor of Tumkur University (TU), has set a precedent of sorts by getting the varsity’s annual convocation shifted to the Raj Bhavan.

The university’s sixth annual convocation is slated to be held at Raj Bhavan’s glass house in Bangalore at 11 am on Monday.

The Governor will preside over the function in the presence of Minister for Higher Education C T Ravi.

 In view of this shift in venue, the varsity has to bear the additional expenditure on the transportation of staff, faculty, students, parents and the degree certificates and citations.

Besides the varsity’s official vehicles, 13 buses will be hired for the to and fro journey of about 150 km, sources from the varsity said.

While 5,834 undergraduates and 847 postgraduates from different disciplines are eligible to receive their degrees, 5,237 UGs and 822 PGs have applied for convocation degree certificates.

Of them, 29 rank holders will receive 35 gold medals on the occasion.

Asked about the shifting of the venue, Vice-Chancellor Dr S C Sharma passed the buck to the Governor, saying that it was done on the latter’s instructions.

Interestingly, he also cited security as a reason, quoting the Governor.

Two distinguished guests will be present at the function — Nobel Laureate Prof Rudolph A Marcus, of USA, who will deliver the convocation address and DRDO scientist Dr Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai , who will be awarded with a DSc.

Clarifying, Higher Education Minister C T Ravi told Express that since the Governor has a busy schedule in Raj Bhavan on the day of the convocation, the venue had been shifted there.