Bengaluru: Ironically, RGUHS will award honorary doctorate to AC Shanmugam, founder-chancellor of Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, an institute with which the varsity is having a legal tussle.In 2019, the Centre and UGC approved an application to change the college from under the ambit of RGUHS and transfer it to Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, a deemed university in Chennai. RGUHS and the state govt opposed the move. They argued it will result in a massive loss of medical seats for Karnataka students and that UGC bypassed mandatory procedures by not consulting the state.The case is still being argued out in court. The college is currently a constituent college of Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute.RGUHS said the name came from the governor’s office and they cannot do anything about it. RGUHS vice- chancellor Bhagavan BC said, “It was a decision taken by the committee constituted by governor. There are three members, of which former VC Sacchidanand was the university’s nominee. We have no role in this beyond nominating a person to the panel.”Sharan Prakash Patil, medical education minister, wasn’t too happy about the choice. “This has come to my notice. We have gone to court against the college and they have got a stay. The legal fight is still on. But govt has no say in the selection process of honorary doctorates. All we can do is to initiate processes so that such things don’t happen in future.”Apart from Shanmugam, the other awardees are Nailady Sridhar Shetty, former Dental Council of India president, and Harshangi Veerbhadrappa, paediatrician.
