BELAGAVI: In a dramatic climbdown following outrage, Rani Channamma University (RCU) announced that it will finally hand over the PhD certificate to research scholar Sujata Pol, days after she allegedly attempted suicide over being denied the award during the university’s recent convocation ceremony.
The decision was taken at an emergency Syndicate meeting convened after the controversy spiralled, drawing public anger, student unrest, and questions over the university’s treatment of scholars.
At a hastily called press conference in Belagavi, Vice-Chancellor Prof. CM Thyagaraj admitted that the Syndicate decided to award the certificate “to protect the honour of the university.” He, however, denied allegations of caste-based discrimination and psychological intimidation raised by Pol, stating that 26 other candidates from various communities received their PhDs at the convocation.
University authorities maintained that Pol was not issued her award because she had failed to pay the mandatory convocation fee, unlike the other 26 scholars who completed both academic and administrative formalities. “She was the lone candidate who did not pay the prescribed fee,” Registrar Santosh Kamagouda clarified.
But Pol has firmly rejected this stand, alleging that senior university officials had targeted, harassed, and deliberately prevented her from receiving the prestigious degree from the Governor during the convocation. Her suicide attempt sent shockwaves across Belagavi and beyond, forcing the university to respond.
Prof. KLN Murthy forced into compulsory retirement
In a major development, the Syndicate also moved to impose compulsory retirement on Pol’s research guide, Prof. KLN Murthy of the History Department.
Pol had earlier filed a formal complaint accusing Prof. Murthy of continuous mental harassment during her research tenure. The Syndicate, while discussing the gravity of these allegations, decided that Prof. Murthy should be removed from service “in the interest of institutional integrity.”
The press conference was attended by members S. B. Dhang, J. S. Jodangi, R. M. Devaraddi, Dr. M. M. Mundargi, Prof. D. N. Patil, Rafi Bhandari, Dr. S. S. Angadi, and Prof. V. S. Shigehalli, reflecting the seriousness with which the institution is attempting to contain the crisis.
With the university now agreeing to confer the PhD, the spotlight shifts to the broader issues of scholar welfare, administrative accountability, and campus safety-concerns that this episode has brought sharply into focus.
