End plagiarism case, high court tells vice-chancellor, registrar

BANGALORE: In an interesting turn to the plagiarism row involving Bangalore University registrar BC Mylarappa, the Karnataka high court directed the Bangalore University vice-chancellor and registrar to initiate and conclude proceedings with regard to withdrawal of the PhD degree awarded to the petitioner, M Venkataramanappa.
Incidentally, the present BU registrar was the guide for M Venkataramanappa.
Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri, while partly allowing the petition filed by Venkataramanappa, also directed that the March 29, 2011 order of the state government be treated as one issued under section 8(5) of the Universities Act, pertaining to discipline, inspection and control, and further action in terms of Section 70 of the Act dealing with withdrawal of a degree and diploma.
"It is the statutory duty of the University to regulate academic standards. If it finds the petitioner has obtained the PhD degree fraudulently, by kidnapping or reproducing certain portions from any other source, it is bound to withdraw the PhD degree awarded. But the same has to be done in the manner prescribed by law. Before taking any adverse action, the person should be given an opportunity. Even if he has a grievance against the actions of the syndicate, he can still file an appeal before the chancellor, whose decision is final as per section 70(5) of the Act," the judge said in his order.
The judge also observed that the order issued by the government under section 10 be read as asking the vice-chancellor to initiate further proceedings. The government issued an order withdrawing the PhD awarded to M Venkataramanappa, following the inquiry report submitted by the K V Irniraya Commission stating the thesis submitted by Venkataramanappa contained plagiarized passages.