Vice-chancellor appointment row: Karnataka Guv slams UR Ananthamurthy

Bangalore, Jan 31:

Governor H R Bhardwaj on Thursday lashed out at Jnanpith Award winning writer U R Ananthamurthy, questioning the latter's authority to challenge his decision.

According to a New Indian Express report, Bhardwaj told reporters that Ananthamurthy is a sick person and he should refrain from speaking against a person who is on dialysis.

The duo was caught in a controversy over the appointment of the vice-chancellor of Devanagere University.

A search committee headed by Ananthamurthy shortlisted 16 names for the post of the vice-chancellor in November and they were asked to make a presentation about their vision for the university on December 17. Three candidates were chosen from the list and they include Dr Janardhan, Dr L Gomathi Devi and Dr B B Kalival in that order of preference.

Ananthamurthy was upset when the Guv chose the third candidate in the list

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened in the matter and picked Dr Gomathi Devi on wrote to the governor, the report said. But Bhardwaj chose Dr Kalival, annoying Ananthamurthy. The latter also warned of writing to President Pranab Mukherjee about the controversies surrounding appointments of vice-chancellors, the report added.

The governor said Ananthamurthy recommended a panel and he did not appoint anybody outside the panel. "Who is he to challenge my authority?," the report quoted Governor as saying.

Ananthamurthy, in his reply, said he regretted the Governor's attitude and couldn't question his authority.

OneIndia News