Bangalore Mirror; Sameer Ranjan Bakshi; Monday, September 27, 2010;
RTI query to Mysore University says VTU Vice-Chancellor Dr H Maheshappa managed a second class in the BE degree course. But his CV in the governor’s office shows a first
The reply from Mysore University to a RTI query raises doubts about the appointment of Dr H Maheshappa as vice-chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU). Dr Maheshappa became the VC on July 1.
According to officials of Mysore University, from where Dr Maheshappa graduated, the VC managed a second class in the bachelor of engineering (BE) course. But, in reply to an RTI query, the governor’s office stated Maheshappa’s CV mentions that he had secured a first class in BE.
When contacted, Dr Maheshappa said, “For becoming a lecturer, either a first class in BE or masters in engineering (ME) is required. I secured a first class in ME. Thus, I qualify for the job.”
When asked about his score in BE, he replied, “At that time, BE was a five-year course (now, it is four). Though the university gave me a second class degree, my marks add up to more than 60 per cent. But the BE marks are in no way concerned with me being qualified for the post of VC.”
However, former All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Dr S Ramegowda, who was the chairperson of the panel that selected Maheshappa as VC, was unhappy with a candidate not being truthful. He said, “I didn’t know this. If this is true, than the law will take its own course.”
When asked why the panel had not cross-checked Dr Maheshappa’s credentials, he said, “It’s very difficult to verify such cases. If somebody is the principal of a college, one doesn’t doubt their marks.”
Dr Maheshappa was the principal of Cambridge Institute of Technology in K R Puram before being appointed the VC.
ANOTHER CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Dr Maheshappa, in his CV, stated that he was a guide for PhD students under VTU. However, a copy of VTU’s annual reports (submitted to the government every year) reveals that no research was carried out in the colleges where Dr Maheshappa served on the faculty, except in Don Bosco Institute of Technology where not a single candidate had registered under him.
Even VTU’s website doesn’t have his name as a guide whose students have been conferred PhDs.
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