Cheating and norms violation charges overshadow Mysore University V-C appointment

A source in the university said that Lokanath was dropped from the vice-chancellor race by the search committee over the alleged irregularities in his appointment as a professor in 2007. “He had violated the hierarchical system during the recruitment process for the post of a professor in 2007. He also lacked the experience for becoming a professor. In fact, he was supposed to submit a clearance certificate that said there are no criminal charges or departmental charges against him, which he did not,” the source said.

Lokanath rejected the encroachment allegation as being part of a conspiracy. “There is a larger conspiracy at play against me after I assumed the office of vice-chancellor. I have not encroached on the land. I purchased a house in the society in 2011. How am I responsible as an individual for the encroachment? There are several houses in the society and the complainant should ideally file a case against the society. I am just an occupant.”

The committee constituted by the state government had recommended Lokanath, Sharath Ananthamurthy and D S Guru but dropped Lokanath’s name at the scrutiny stage, citing the Justice Rangavittalachar Commission’s 2009 inquiry report that found that professor appointments norms were flouted in 2007. It stated that Lokanath did not have a minimum of 10 years of teaching experience, as mandated by UGC guidelines, to be appointed as a professor.

According to a university official, the search committee headed by M S Shivakumar, former vice-chancellor of CMR University, Bengaluru, later recommended names of G Venkatesh Kumar, D S Guru and Sharath Ananthmurthy to the government for the vice-chancellor post. However, following a writ petition challenging this recommendation, the government called a fresh meeting of the committee last month, the official said. “In this meeting, it is believed that Lokanath was selected to take over as the vice-chancellor,” the official added.

Responding to the allegation of irregularities in his appointment as the vice-chancellor, Lokanath said, “One should ask the government about dropping me and later selecting me for the role of the vice-chancellor. However, as far as the 2009 report is concerned, the Karnataka High Court has already set it aside. Moreover, some professors of the 2007 batch have been vice-chancellors of Mysore University.”