Pressure mounts to appoint NK-based Woman Professor as VC for Akkamahadevi varsity

VIJAYAPURA

The only Women's University in the state, named after Akkamahadevi, has never had a Vice-Chancellor (VC) from the North Karnataka region in its 22-year history. Except for pro-term appointments, professors from South Karnataka have dominated the varsity. This time, the search committee, headed by Dr Mallika Ghanti, former VC of Kannada University, Hampi and a senior writer from the NK region, has recommended names for VC posts of four universities in the state. Although the committee recommended three names, Prof Nagaratna (Bengaluru), Prof Saroja (Mangaluru), and Prof Vijaya Korishettar, it is said that the government has allegedly finalised the name of Prof Nagaratna. Irked by this move, academicians, advocates, and farmer leaders are preparing for an agitation. Hema Pattanshetti, a senior writer in Dharwad, commented that injustice continues in all sectors, including the academic sector. The women's varsity was established in Vijayapura as part of the implementation of recommendations made by the Dr DM Nanjundappa committee in 2003. The irony is that no NK woman was elevated as VC of the same.

As one name from NK is recommended by the search committee, the government should consider it to eradicate the regional imbalance, she commented.

Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, MP Jagadish Shettar, and other elected representatives have written a letter to the government, urging it to choose an eligible professor from the region.VC's post has been vacant since Prof BK Tulasimala's retirement on January 25, 2025. Acting VC Prof T Shantadevi's tenure ends on June 27, and the government is expected to appoint a new VC soon. Sources in the varsity said that many development and academic works have stopped due to the absence of a full-fledged VC for six months.