Dice is Caste

BANGALORE: Dirty linen was pulled out at Bangalore University, where controversy is nothing new. But Tuesday's developments were perhaps the ugliest, which involved the decision-makers of a university that has a student population of over seven lakh.
While vice-chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev refused to allow the newly-appointed registrars -- M G Krishnan and M S Talwar -- to assume office on Monday, insisting on official communication from the CM's office, the latter said they were armed with the government order (GO) from the higher education department.
That's where all the confusion began. The professor of the department of rural development at BU told `The Times of India' that students were upset that the V-C did not allow the registrars to join.
"The protest began around 10.30 am and continued for three-and-half hours. Students, teachers, non-teaching staff -- all participated in the protest. There was no compulsion on anyone to participate. We wanted the vice-chancellor to respect the GO and appoint the registrars," he said.
"We have given the university three days to solve the issue amicably, failing which the protest will continue indefinitely. It is the image of the university that is affected," he said.
CASTE THE PROBLEM?
Sources `alleged' that the V-C wanted his "own candidates" for the two posts, but the education department came out with its own list, which was approved by the CM. Another version was that the candidates short-listed by the V-C were two members from the Lingayat community, to which he belongs.
"Krishnan is a Vokkaliga and Talwar is an SC. But the candidates short-listed by the V-C were Lingayats. It is sad that caste is a major issue," sources alleged.
NEW BOARD RULE
At the Inter-University Board meeting held this year, it was decided to have academicians and senior professors for the registrar's post. Earlier, IAS, IPS and IFS officers were appointed.
WHAT IS GOVT SAYING?
According to higher education department officials, the vice-chancellor had shortlisted names of three candidates for the registrars' posts. "Of the three, two were Lingayats and one belonged to SC category. However, the education department had shortlisted some more candidates. But the CM approved the government's shortlist," the official said.
Further, he said the V-C tried contacting the CM's office to put the appointments on hold. "So, when the registrars reported to duty on Monday, the V-C asked them to wait for a day as he was expecting communication from the CM's office," he said.
The official said both the V-C and in-charge registrar T R Subramanya were missing from the campus on Tuesday. "We learnt that the V-C had to go to Delhi, while the registrar is on leave. Either of them should be present. When a GO is issued, it's the duty of the vice-chancellor to follow it."
WHAT DID V-C WANT?
According to the V-C, Krishnan was to meet him at 10 am on Monday (November 16). Since he had another engagement, he couldn't make it. He had a pre-scheduled meeting at 11.30 am with the high-powered advisory committee to discuss the report submitted by Puranik on distance education and his recommendations. The meeting was over at 2 pm, after which he met Krishnan and Talwar. "I asked them to wait for the new GO, which was expected shortly," he stated.
HERESAY
It's not good to wash dirty linen in public... In all this, students get affected. Earlier, Bangalore University had medical and engineering colleges too, and we could manage it, in spite of the problems. Going public about the problem must be avoided in the interest of the university and students
N R Shetty, former v-c, bangalore university
I didn't go to the office today as they didn't expect me to function. However, reporting to duty (Monday) has been marked to the higher education minister
M G Krishnan, newly-appointed registrar (admin)
CLASSES CAME TO A STANDSTILL
All students stopped classes at 11 am and bolted from their classrooms. They were joined by staff members. "We saw the V-C's car at 10.30 am. By the time we rounded up the students and staff, he had left. We shouted slogans in front of the V-C's office. The cops were there. We did not get to meet the V-C, or in-charge registrar T R Subramanya," student union leader Rangaswamy said.
Putturaju, who took over from Subramanya a few days ago, told the students that the V-C was on leave for three days and is not available to meet the students. "The education minister did not come to meet us, though we were there till 2 pm. We want a registrar who can solve our problems," he added.
Apparently, the V-C wanted a certain Ranganath (one of the candidates he had short-listed) to be the registrar (admin).
"So far, the post was given to IPS officers who didn't understand the students' problems. If they don't appoint the registrars, we might even call for a bandh and stage a protest on Mysore Road," said Rangaswamy.
Meanwhile, another angry student, Venkatesh V, accused the V-C of being unfit for administration work. "He is a doctor. He is not fit for Bangalore University."
He said the the V-C had no right to act the way he did because the transfer orders came from the education minister's office. "More than 1,500 students participated in the protest against the V-C's dictator-like attitude. He does not respect even senior staff members," said Venkatesh.