Bangalore University won't confer honourary doctorate on anyone

Bangalore University won't confer honourary doctorate on anyone


Bangalore: In a volte-face of sorts, Bangalore University has decided to the give up its idea of awarding honourary doctorates to eminent individuals at its 45th annual convocation scheduled to be held on Friday.
“The university has decided not to give any honourary doctorates this year,” vice-chancellor N Prabhu Dev told mediapersons here on Thursday. Eight individuals were awarded honourary doctorates by the varsity last year.
However, sources said that not awarding honourary doctorates was, in fact, the governor’s decision. “A syndicate meeting held a few weeks ago had recommended some names for awarding honourary doctorates. The vice-chancellor had even forwarded that list for the governor’s approval,” they said.
The syndicate had recommended the names of journalist P Sainath, Mahesh Joshi (senior director, Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra) and BL Lakkegowda (a former Bangalore University professor) for awarding honourary doctorates this year. It had also recommended conferring posthumous honourary doctorate on MS Ramaiah (the late chairman of MS Ramaiah Group of Institutions).
“We were supposed to receive the approved list from Raj Bhavan by April 23. Around 4 pm on that day we learnt that the names of PV Krishna Bhat (MLC) and Mahesh Joshi had been finalised, but two hours later we received a communique from the governor’s office directing us not to confer any honourary doctorates this year,” an official said on condition of anonymity. According to sources, a senior official from Doordarshan had obtained information about Mahesh Joshi’s PhD credentials through RTI and passed on the same to the university and Raj Bhavan.
“The information had to do with how Mahesh Joshi had obtained his PhD through unfair means. On coming to know of this,the governor decided not to recommend any name for awarding the
honourary doctorates,” the sources said.
When DNA contacted Mahesh Joshi, he only said: “Honestly, I have no idea about all this. Until I see the copy of the allegations how can I comment?”

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