The process of taking the controversy surrounding Karnatak University to its logical end began on Thursday with retired judge of Karnatak High Court Justice B Padmaraj being appointed to head the one-man commission to probe the charges.
Accompanied by a team of officials, Justice Padmaraj held discussions with registrar Sidde Gowda and finance officer Rajeshwari. He also called for files pertaining to the issue mentioned by the petitioners seeking the probe.
Governor Vajubhai Vala, also the chancellor of all the universities in the state, had appointed Justice Padmaraj to head the one-man inquiry commission after a delegation of BJP leaders and Save University Action Committee met him at Raj Bhavan and handed over documents to him regarding alleged irregularities at Karnataka University during vice-chancellor H B Walikar's tenure.
The governor has asked the commission to submit its report within a fortnight. The order to probe the charges has left those appointed to teaching posts during Walikar's regime in the recent past are fearing losing their jobs.
BJP delegation consisted of state BJP president and MP Prahlad Joshi, leader of the opposition Jagadish Shettar and Hubli-Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad while the Save Karnatak University Action Committee was represented by former syndicate member K S Jayant, advocate Arun Joshi and former corporator Iresh Anchatageri.
The action committee has asked the governor to send Walikar on leave till the probe is complete, to facilitate a free and fair probe. Meanwhile, professor Chandrama Kanagali who was registrar of Karnatak University before being shifted to Karnataka State Dr Gangubai Hanagal University of Music and Performing Arts, Mysore has also written to the government seeking action against the vice-chancellor for alleged violation of rules.
She had said in her letter that the vice-chancellor was taking major decisions including appointment to various posts in violation of rules when he was not left with more than three months to complete his term.
She said, the V-C ought not to have taken major policy decisions during the last three months of his tenure, but Walikar threw the rules to the winds and forced her to sign the relevant papers. She had refused to oblige and the syndicate had resolved to replace her with another professor as registrar.
The main charges against vice-chancellor Walikar include large-scale financial irregularities in the purchase of computers, marks card, solar equipment, furniture and tendering process. In addition to that there are charges of varsity authorities siphoning of money by producing hotel bills without actually availing the services of the hotel, irregularities and illegal practices in the appointment to various posts in the university in the last four years.
Justice Padmaraj also held discussions with vice chancellor H B Walikar. The V-C said he would cooperate with the commission.
Even as the governor ordered a probe into the charges of irregularities, groups supporting Walikar and those opposed to him have started a show of strength through protest demonstrations.
Research students on the campus, a section of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and contract workers took out a procession asking the governor to withdraw his order to appoint the inquiry commission saying it was a vindictive act.
They wanted the governor to seek a report from the higher education department before ordering the probe.
