Min: RGUHS interim VC pick surprising

Min: RGUHS interim VC pick surprising

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  13.06.2021

The appointment of Dr Jayakara SM, principal, AECS Maruthi College of Dental Sciences, as the interim vice-chancellor (VC) of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has come as a surprise to medical education minister K Sudhakar.

Sudhakar told STOI that he had written to the governor that one of the registrars or a dean of a government college can hold the post. The appointment, he said “has come as a surprise” and that some deans have written to him about it.

Jayakara’s appointment will be effective from June 15 till a VC is appointed or until further orders. This is the first time a private college principal will hold the post of the VC, albeit as an interim position in the history of RGUHS.

Sudhakar said as the pro-chancellor of the university, he had requested for a meeting with the governor three weeks ago to discuss the appointment. “Given the Covid situation, the governor was not meeting anyone is what I was told. Hence, I could not meet him, but had written to him on the interim VC post, which is usually given to the director of medical education, registrar evaluation or administration of the university, or seniormost deans of government medical colleges,” he said.

The minister’s letter also mentioned the formation of the search committee and its chairperson that can select the VC. “May be the letter was not considered,” he said.

The appointment has also disappointed some professors in government medical colleges, who were in the seniority list. “There’s no clarity on how a private dental college principal has been made the interim VC, when there are several of us, who have worked in government medical colleges in highest capacities,” said dean of a government college.

Chosen based on work: Dr Jayakara

Dr Jayakara said he was nominated by the chancellor. He said he was also the dean of dental faculty at the university and served the university as dean and senate member for two times each.“I’ve also served the university in various capacities, chairing some of the committees. When the marks card scam was unearthed (2013-14), I was appointed the chairperson of the committee by the syndicate and I had submitted a report. It was based on my report that several reforms were introduced,” Jayakara said, adding that he was given the post based on his work. Jayakara said he would discuss the matter with the CM on Saturday.

“I don’t know what has happened. Had I met the governor, I would have explained about it. Now, the professors are asking me how an interim post has been given to a private college principal. When I return to Bengaluru, I will try to meet the governor.”