�Kakinada: Lapses in relation to the convocation procedures have hurt the dignity of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK) on July 4. Issues of casteism and petty ego clashes have been raised, embarrassing the academic community.
Governor S Abdul Nazeer, as chancellor of the state universities, presided over the event while chairman of the Boston Group of Companies Kota Subrahmanyam (Subu Kota) was conferred the Honoris Causa honour.
Confusion prevailed at the convocation as protocols were not followed and there were too many other lapses. When civil engineering professor GVR Prasada Raju was vice chancellor, rector KV Ramana used to receive VIPs at the guest house with a bouquet. This time too, Ramana was initially assigned to welcome the governor. But the registrar came upfront to receive the governor, but without the bouquet.
It is said that the registrar welcomed the governor with a plant leaf, which he took in a huff from somebody.
To make matters worse, there was no Vote of Thanks at the conclusion of the convocation. In usual convocation procedures, the rector has to give the vote of thanks, with an expression of gratitude to the directors, guests and the rest of those who attended the convocation.
The PhD holders were deeply upset. They said a great injustice was done to them in awarding the certificates in a rather casual manner. Only the Gold Medalists were given the same by the chief guests and the PhD holders were ignored.
After the departure of the chief guests from the dais, the VC returned to the dais and presented certificates to PhD holders.
Another lapse related to an unread VIP message. Normally, if any chief guest does not turn up at the convocation, his message would be read out at the event by a director. This time, education minister Nara Lokesh sent a message to the convocation, but it was not read out. Some professors and associate professors later said they were not aware of the message from the minister.
Two days back, JNTUK relieved KV Ramana and V Ravindranath from the rector and registrar posts and appointed former registrar
VV Subba Rao as new rector and former incharge VC of Krishna University, R Srinivasa Rao, as registrar. This also raised a row.
Outraged by the humiliation meted out to him, rector Ramana lambasted the vice chancellor after the convocation. Ramana told Deccan Chronicle that JNTUK is a prestigious university, but the XI-th convocation programme turned out to be a complete mess. He alleged that the vice chancellor intentionally humiliated him because of considerations of his caste.
Ramana made it clear that he has not received any letter or information from the registrar or the vice chancellor about relieving him from the rector post.
Meanwhile, registrar Srinivasa Rao released a statement saying KV Ramana and V Ravindranath requested the VC to relieve them from their positions after the XI-th convocation. These two officials have discharged their duties with utmost sincerity and commitment, it was stated.
