Belagavi: The recent order issued by the High Court preventing the Governor from ordering inquiries against any Vice-Chancellor, has once again been stayed by the High Court.
The Governor had named a one-man committee headed by retired judge Ajit Gunjal, on December 20 to probe into the alleged scams involving Prof. Maheshappa a few days after the High Court prevented the Governor from investigating into the alleged scandals involving the former VC of Karnatak University, Dr H B Walikar.
The stay issued by the High Court's Vacation Bench earlier on theinquiry against Prof. Maheshappa until January 5th has now been extended by the court up to January 13.
Advocates of the VTU VC appealed to the court during the hearing of the case that only the state government had powers to form a committee to probe any allegation levelled against the VCs of universities in the state as per Section 9 of the Karnataka University Act.
They contended that the issue of forming committees or ordering of an inquiry against VCs did not fall under the purview of the Governor.
On hearing the appellants, Judge Arvind Kumar extended the stay on inquiry up to January 13 and decided to take up the case only after that day.
Several leaders of BJP and JDS had met the Governor demanding a probe against Prof Maheshappa alleging that he was involved in various scams which made the Governor form a one-man committee headed by retired judge Ajit Gunjal.
A copy of the order issued by the Governor for inquiry had been sent to the VTU in the second week of December soon after which Prof Maheshappa decided to challenge it.
The advocates of Prof Maheshappa are confident that the High Court will prevent the Governor from taking up any kind of inquiry against the VCs in the state as the court has already issued orders preventing him from taking up such measures regarding the case of Dr Walikar.
Without taking cognizance of the court's orders, the Governor ordered inquiries against Dr Maheshappa and Mysore University VC, K. S Rangappa.
Former Governor, H R Bhardwaj extended the term of Prof Maheshappa for another three-year term last June based on the recommendations by a VC Search Committee.
Of the three probable candidates recommended by the committee, Mr Bharadwaj decided to have Prof Maheshappa as VC for another term.
