Bommai turns down honorary doctorate, calls for rethink on awards to politicians
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has declined to accept an honorary doctorate from Haveri University, saying it is not appropriate to confer such honours on politicians or those engaged in self-motivated social service.
He said the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours in public life.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Syndicate members of Haveri University for deciding to confer an honorary doctorate on me,” Bommai, MP from Haveri, said in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“However, I have informed the Vice-Chancellor that I will not accept the honour. As I am engaged in public service, I do not seek any awards. I believe the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours. Therefore, I humbly reiterate that I will not accept the honorary doctorate,” he said.
Bommai said honorary doctorates should be awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished and significant service in a particular field over a long period.
“It is my personal view that it is not appropriate to confer honorary doctorates on politicians or those engaged in social service out of self-motivation. I request that this matter be reconsidered,” he added.
Recently, Karnataka Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar proposed the constitution of an expert panel to regulate the awarding of honorary doctorates.
In a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of public universities in the state, the minister highlighted the lack of standards in conferring such honours.
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Karnataka Minister D Sudhakar dies, condolences pour in
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister D Sudhakar died in the early hours of Sunday after a prolonged illness, a medical bulletin said.
He was 66.
The planning and statistics minister breathed his last at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences here. He had been undergoing treatment for a lung infection for the past two months.
"Honourable Minister Mr Sudhakar D, 66 yrs old, was declared dead at 3.15 am on 10.05.2026 in Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Electronic City," Dr R Chinnadurai, Medical Director of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, said in the bulletin.
Sudhakar was a senior Congress leader and the MLA from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district.
Mourning his demise, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was saddened to hear about Sudhakar’s death. He said when he met him in the hospital, he felt he would recover.
"Sudhakar was a person with immense concern and commitment towards public service. Such a person should have remained among the people for many more years. Despite the continuous efforts of doctors and the prayers of all of us, Sudhakar has left us today. This is an extremely painful moment," Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X'.
Condoling his death, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said Sudhakar had rendered exemplary public service in a people-friendly manner.
In a post on 'X', Sudhakar said, "I pray that God grant eternal peace to D Sudhakar and give strength to his family to bear the grief. Om Shanti.”
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, too expressed his grief over Sudhakar’s demise.
