Revamp RGUHS, governor tells govt

Miffed by the spate of scams in the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), governor T N Chaturvedi has sought a complete revamp of the functioning of the university.

Chaturvedi, also chancellor of universities, has not only sought a periodical review of the functioning, but also wants the statutes and rules governing the university to be amended to improve functioning.

The state government has now constituted a committee, headed by former RGUHS V-C S Chandrasekhara Shetty, to examine the present structural set-up of the university.

The committee, constituted last week, will suggest amendments to the provisions of the existing Act and recommend inclusion of new provisions. It will also recommend the setting up of a review commission to study the functioning of the university periodically.

The other members of the committee are C M Gurumurthy, former special officer for establishment of RGUHS, Dr K S Nagesh, principal RV dental college, Dr K P Puttaraya, consultant R&D (RGUHS) and S R Kanakaraj, former university registrar.

The panel has been asked to submit its report within three months. In his letter to the government, the chancellor said: Section 71 of the Karnataka State Universities Act 2000 provides for appointment of a review commission into the working of the university.

There is no such provision in respect of other universities, hence it has not been possible to review their functioning.

Since there have been a number of petitions regarding malpractices in some of the universities, it is necessary to have a review commission comprising administrative and academic experts in respect of RGUHS.