BENGALURU: The list of people aspiring for the post of the vice- chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) is already big. And even after the last date, the department is still receiving applications.
As per the information available from the Department of Higher Education, it has already received over 100 applications. “The university had forwarded over 80 applications which it had received. Apart from that, we also have received over 22-23 applications. Interestingly, we are still getting applications,” said an official of the Department of Higher Education.
The last date for submission of applications was August 31. Speaking about this, Dr V Sridhar, vice-chancellor in-charge, VTU, said, “August 31 was the last date to submit applications. Till that date we had received 80 applications and forwarded all of them to department.”
The search committee has been finalised and is expected to meet next week.
According to sources in the department, the appointment of vice-chancellor will be done by the first week of October. “We are trying to fix appointments with all the members in the search committee. Once they are okay with the date, we will schedule the meeting of search committee where names will be suggested for the post of the VC,” explained an official.
The post of VC has been vacant since March second week when the Governor and Chancellor Vajubhai Vala suspended the then V-C Dr H Maheshappa, on the grounds of irregularities based on a fact-finding committee report. Since then, the university has been managed by an in-charge vice-chancellor.
In the committee
For the first time, the state government has nominated the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation as its nominee for the committee to select the vice- chancellor. The others are: Governor nominee is Dr DV Bhatt former dean of mechanical engineering at NIT Surat, VTU academic senate nominee Dr MS Shivakumar, former registrar of VTU, and VTU Executive Council nominee Dr HC Nagaraj, principal of NITTE Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru.
In the race
Many senior professors and principals of engineering colleges in the state are in race for the post. Some names doing the rounds include former V-C of Tumkur university, Prof SC Sharma, principal of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Dr KR Venugopal, VTU in-charge V-C, Dr V Sridhar and Registrar of VTU, Prof Shekarappa.
There are even applications from non-technical institutes. As per information, many senior professors and heads of departments from Bangalore University are also trying their luck.
