HC gives go ahead to Mysore univ to honour 4 eminent people

Bangalore, Jan 2 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today upheld the decision of the Mysore University Syndicate to honour with honorary doctorates renowned personalities, including former ISRO Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar.

Dismissing a writ petition filed by Syndicate member Dr Mahadev challenging the decision to award doctorates during the varsity convocation on January nine, Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr Justice B S Patil said the court did not find any merit in the contentions of illegality of procedure raised in the petition and observed that there was nothing illegal or improper in the Vice-Chancellor holding consultations with the Chancellor on the issue.

The petitioner contended that the Governor and varsity Chancellor had approved only some names recommended by the Syndicate and included new names, violating the provisions of the Karnataka Universities Act.

On a perusal of the letters and correspondence between the VC and the Chancellor, the court found that the Secretary to the Chancellor had written to the Vice-Chancellor, approving some names and recommending new names. Thereafter the Syndicate had, in its proceedings dated December 16 last, decided to confer honorary doctorates to four out of the five eminent personalities mentioned in the letter of the Secretary to the Chancellor. The Syndicate had decided to drop the name of noted writer R K Narayan on the ground that he had already been conferred with a doctorate by the varsity.

UNI