DHARWAD: Why has Karnatak University allowed itself to be bypassed in the matter of obtaining patent for an important work, which should have brought to it both money and laurels?

This is the question that is being debated widely, even as the details of the patent for developing "ion exchange membrane," which helps in converting brackish water into potable water, are becoming known.

The ion exchange membrane is the work of Mahadevappa Karidurgannavar of the Postgraduate Department of Chemistry of the university. It was patented in the U.S. nearly three years ago. The university was reportedly unaware of the patent having been given till Dr. Karidurgannavar told the Vice-Chancellor about it recently.

Senior teachers say this is only the tip of the iceberg, given the "growing tendency" of teachers, especially those in the Science Department, to take up research directly from outside agencies, without the university's knowledge. The university does not have a mechanism to monitor the research done by its teachers.

Dr. Karidurgannavar's grouse was not that he was prevailed upon to include the names of Tejraj Amminabhavi, his senior colleague in the department, and Padmakar Kulkarni, a resident of the U.S., as joint inventors, but that the patent has been assigned to a U.S. firm about which he has no knowledge.

It is clear that patent papers have no reference to Karnatak University. The university has appointed a dean of life sciences to probe the matter and is awaiting a report. The Vice-Chancellor, Khaja Peer, said the developments took place before he took over. Senior members of the faculty in the State are distressed over what they call the lackadaisical response of the university to a serious case on which criminal charges can be preferred. Research is part of the work of the university teachers, and no teacher can claim credit without reference to the university. Doing so is a violation of the conduct rules.

It is pointed out that in all reputed institutions, the proceeds of research are shared between the researcher and the institution in the ratio of 60:40.

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