Minister seeks expert committee to frame guidelines for hon. doctorates

Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar has written to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, requesting him to constitute an expert committee to formulate the required rules and regulatory guidelines applicable to all State, private, and special universities, so as to ensure adherence to uniform standards in the conferment of honorary doctorates.

In his letter, the Minister said that universities are empowered to confer honorary degrees upon distinguished persons in recognition of their outstanding contributions in various fields under the provisions of the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000.

“However, concerns have recently been raised in the public domain and on the floor of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council regarding instances where multiple universities have conferred honorary doctorates upon the same individual, and the absence of uniform criteria or limits governing such conferments,” he added.

In order to preserve the dignity, credibility, and sanctity of honorary degrees, it has become necessary to evolve uniform regulatory guidelines applicable to all public universities in the State, he opined.

“It is submitted that during the Vice-Chancellors’ Conference held on February 21, it was decided to constitute an expert Committee to frame rules for the uniform conduct of convocations in universities and to formulate guidelines for a uniform academic calendar and university events.” However, the Minister stated that the issue relating to the conferment of honorary doctorates could not be taken up for discussion during the said meeting.

“In this regard, it is proposed to constitute an expert committee to examine the existing practices relating to the conferment of honorary doctorates and to recommend suitable guidelines to ensure transparency and uniform standards across universities in the State,” the Minister said in his letter.