MU will stick to rulebook for awarding honorary doctorates
There are eligibility criteria listed under Section 69 of the Karnataka University Act, 2000, to select an individual for the degree. With these repeated incidents bringing disrepute, the university, in its recent syndicate meeting, planned to adhere to the rulebook to reduce further embarrassment.
"The reputation of Mangalore University came under serious scrutiny after receiving backlash from associations and individuals on social media and print media," said advocate Suresh Kumar B Navoor, a syndicate member.
"To address this recurring lapse of selecting candidates without adhering to proper guidelines, I raised the issue at the last syndicate meeting. Several members, including myself, strongly voiced that this practice must end.
Honorary doctorates should be awarded strictly to deserving individuals as per the rulebook. If no suitable candidate is found, the convocation can proceed without conferring any honorary degree, a practice that has been followed in the past and can be adopted again going forward," he said.
A total of 11 applications from aspirants were received in the last convocation for honorary causa.
Another syndicate member alleged that applications are first discussed and shortlisted at the syndicate meeting. However, this time no such protocol was followed. The senior university officials directly approached the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, and finalised three names. In the process, the syndicate body, the highest decision-making body of the university, was kept in the dark about the process.
The KUA 2000 was not followed.
PL Dharma, vice-chancellor of MU, said that they are trying to make the entire process more transparent from next time. Besides, the syndicate body of the university had asked to furnish details of individuals who received honorary causa in the past, and we have given them. "It is also not necessary that we have to award honorary doctorates in every convocation," he said.
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