Pressure mounts to appoint North Karnataka-based woman professor as VC for Akkamahadevi varsity, ET Education
Vijayapura: The only women’s university in the state, named after Akkamahadevi, has never had a vice-chancellor (VC) from the North Karnataka (NK) 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 govt 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 govt should consider it to eradicate the regional imbalance,” she commented.
Advocate BD Hiremath regretted that the govt has not yet recognised eligible woman professors from NK even after 22 years. “If it doesn’t appoint an NK person, we will launch an agitation across the region,” he warned.
Supporting the campaign, Karnataka legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti, Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar, and other elected representatives have written a letter to the govt, urging it to choose an eligible professor from the region.
VC’s post has been vacant since Prof BK Tulasimala’s retirement on Jan 25, 2025. Acting VC Prof T Shantadevi’s tenure ends on June 27, and the govt 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.
Higher education minister MC Sudhakar was unavailable for comment.
Former VCs and their city:
– Dr Syeda Akhtar, Shivamogga
– Prof Geetha Bali, Bengaluru
– Dr Meena Chandavarkar, Mumbai
– Dr Sabiha Bhoomigowda, Mangaluru
– Prof BK Tulasimala, Mysuru
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