The High Court found Puttaraju guilty of failing girl students who resisted his overtures. Now, he's strutting around the corridors of Bangalore University as registrar of evaluation
The High Court found Puttaraju guilty of failing girl students who resisted his overtures. Now, he's strutting around the corridors of Bangalore University as registrar of evaluation
A professor proved guilty of failing girl students who didn't give in to his demands is sitting pretty as registrar of evaluation in Bangalore University.
Dr K Puttaraju, professor in the communication department, is acting as registrar of evaluation despite the High Court saying he should not be given any examination or confidential work.
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Ten students, who had appeared for the M S Communication degree examination in 1984, failed in two subjects reporting and lab journal production and had complained against Puttaraju saying he had vindictively failed them.
When they refused to 'co-operate' with him, he turned vindictive and failed them, they had said.
No action
Following the complaint, a fact-finding committee stated that Puttaraju was indeed guilty and unfit to be an examiner.
The failed students passed after their papers were re-evaluated, following the fact-finding committee's recommendations.
The committee also recommended that Puttaraju be transferred to another university.
When no action was taken, the complainants moved the High Court and Justice Rama Jois heard the case.
Famous dancer Prathibha Prahalad, who studied M S Communication at the university, was one of the petitioners.
Upholding the committee's recommendations, the court said, "Puttaraju may not be appointed as an examiner and should not be given any other confidential work and he should not be placed in any responsible position including the selection of candidates for admission to communication course."
Back in action
Puttaraju, however, was busy overseeing the counselling for PG admissions yesterday.
"It is paradoxical that a man who is not fit for evaluation is in the position of the registrar of evaluation," said a syndicate member.
"And he is supervising the admission process when he is not supposed to be included."
Dr N Prabhudev, Vice-Chancellor, said he was not aware of the professor's past scandals.
"If somebody gives me a copy of the judgment, I will go through it and take appropriate action," he said.
He said Puttaraju was just an in-charge registrar of evaluation and the appointment of a full-time officer was under process.
Who is Prathibha Prahalad?
Prathibha Prahalad is a winner of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Bharatanatyam. She runs a dance foundation, and was close to former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde.
'He made derogatory remarks against me'
"I feel very sad about the education system in our country. A man who deserves punishment is made in-charge of exams in the university. Puttaraju was partial and biased. He made derogatory remarks against the girl students, including me. When we complained against his behavior, he turned vindictive and failed all of us. But we were rank students and passed with good marks in the subjects, after re-evaluation.
"I feel sorry about dragging a teacher to court, but it was inevitable because he was no longer a teacher."
Prathibha Prahalad
'Don't punish me for life'
"For one mistake, don't punish me for life. I was barred from examination work for some time and not for my entire service. The court had said I must be barred from examination work. It was the inquiry committee that made the recommendation and the high court just quoted it.
"The inquiry committee was prejudiced. It was partial in making recommendations and, unfortunately, the court upheld it. I was not even made party to the case and I didn't have an opportunity to make my submission."
Dr K Puttaraju
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