BU vice-chancellor, council members fight over budget venue
The internal bickering in Bangalore University (BU) touched another low on Monday as Vice Chancellor, Dr. N. Prabhudev and members of the academic council abused each other in full view of the media and several hundred onlookers. An occasion that should have been serious considering that the university's Budget for 2012-13 was being presented, turned into a farce as those involved seemed more concerned over where it should be presented than in its contents
While the Vice Chancellor had convened the academic council meeting at the university seminar hall , dozens of council members who had arrived well before schedule, wanted it held in the boardroom instead. As Dr.Prabhudev remained unmoved saying it was against the law to hold it anywhere but the seminar hall, an argument began with themembers claiming the Budget was presented in the boardroom the last time.
An angry VC responded by threatening to adjourn the meeting if they didn’t come into the seminar hall before 11.30 am . Although registrar Prof.B.C. Mylarappa tried to persuade him to change his mind, he refused and the drama continued for well over an hour as both sides remained adamant. The tug of war ended at last with the members giving in and trooping into the seminar hall for the Budget presentation.
But the heckling continued as a few members did not give up their verbal attack on Dr Prabhudev, who lost his temper as some turned almost abusive. While a few others advised him to be more democratic and less dictatorial in his attitude, he however, maintained he was only following university statutes. The Budget was finally presented by finance officer, Rangaswamy , who said the university's total receipts for the year would be Rs 225.80 crore while its outgoing would to be to the tune of Rs 230.57 crores.
But Dr.Prabhudev later made sure to issue notices to several staff of the university for opening the boardroom without his permission and letting the chaos unfurl.
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