Bommai declines honorary doctorate, says netas shouldn’t get it

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Apr 7, 2026: Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has declined an honorary doctorate offered by Haveri University, stating that politicians should not be considered for such recognitions.

“I have already informed the vice-chancellor that I will not be accepting the honorary doctorate,” said Bommai, now a BJP MP from Haveri. “I do not seek any awards in public service. The love and trust of the people are the greatest honours for me.”

His decision comes at a time when several public universities have been conferring honorary doctorates on politicians. Recently, Congress MLC K Govindaraj, a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and former JD(S) MLC B M Farooq received honorary doctorates from Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University. Earlier this year, former minister PGR Sindhia was honoured by Gulbarga University, while last year Speaker U T Khader and former MLC D Madegowda were also recipients.

Bommai said honorary doctorates should be reserved for individuals who have made exceptional and long-standing contributions in specific fields. “Such honours should go to true achievers,” he said.

He added that, in his personal view, it is inappropriate to confer honorary doctorates on politicians or individuals engaged in social service on their own accord, and called for a rethink on the practice.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister M. C. Sudhakar recently proposed forming an expert panel to regulate the awarding of honorary doctorates, citing a “lack of standards.”

In a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who also serves as the chancellor of public universities, Sudhakar stressed the need for uniform guidelines to preserve the dignity and credibility of such honours. The proposed review will cover honorary doctorates awarded by public, private, and deemed universities.