Now, a third panel will frame charges against VTU former V-C

BENGALURU: A year after governor Vajubhai Vala communicated to the state government to initiate action against Dr H Maheshappa for alleged wrong-doings, the then vice-chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, the government has appointed retired high court judge Justice Ashok Hinchageri to frame charges. This is the third committee constituted to conduct inquiry.
When Hans Raj Bharadwaj was governor, he had constituted a committee headed by retired judge Justice Ajit Gunjal to look into the allegations against Maheshappa. However, Justice Gunjal did not continue with the inquiry. The second committee was headed by Justice Keshavanarayana. Interestingly, the expenses of all these committees were borne by VTU.

In August 2016, Governor Vala had communicated to the state government along with the report of the fact-finding committee headed by Justice Keshavanarayana, which confirmed allegations of irregularities at VTU during Maheshappa’s tenure as VC. Following the report, the governor suspended Maheshappa from the post and recommend appropriate action against him.
The government, which had not acted so far, issued an on October 16 appointing Justice Ashok Hinchageri as inquiry officer to frame article of charges based on the report submitted by the Justice Keshavanarayana Committee. The order directs the committee to submit a report within three months and also says that report will be forwarded to the governor for further action. “Once we receive the report, we will send it to the governor. Based on his reply, we will take further action,” said an official source in the Department of Higher Education.

Governor set up panel after several complaints

The Justice Keshavanarayana Committee was set up by the present governor following complaints from various people. These mainly related to awarding tenders for construction works and purchase of equipment and software in gross violation of KTTP Act; reduction of corpus fund which was more than `500 crore to insignificant levels and irregularities in the appointment of 168 teaching staff in violation of government orders.