New universities will be merged with old ones: DCM

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Amidst rumours of scrapping universities in the state, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that the new universities are being merged with old universities. Replying to the issue raised by Leader of the Opposition R Ashok and former BJP minister C N Ashwath Narayan in the session at the Legislative Assembly, he said, It was under Ashwath Narayan’s supervision that the universities were during the BJP’s rule. The nine universities under the government’s radar are Hassan, Chamrajnagar, Haveri, Kodagu, Koppal, Bagalkot, Maharani Cluster, Mandya and Nrupathunga.

“Students continue to study in the same colleges but they get their degree from another university,” he said, adding that there's a difference between graduating from renowned universities like Mysuru or Bengaluru University rather than a newly set up Mandya or Chamrajnagara University. “Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's son is in the House. His nephew could not get admission in a foreign university because the college he studied was not an official university. Bengaluru and Mysuru universities are prestigious and it doesn't make sense to have newer universities which don't have the same standing," he said.

He also questioned whether teaching faculties would enter these new universities. “Does it become a university if a vice chancellor and a registrar are appointed? You have already formed the new universities and hence they can't be closed. Hence, we are merging them," he added. Earlier, responding to a question by Jamkhandi BJP MLA Jagdish Shivayaa Gudagunti on the speculated closure of the Bagalkot University, State Minister for Higher Education M C Sudhakar said that a decision is yet to be made by the cabinet.

“Old and new universities have various issues. It has become difficult to pay pensions to the old universities,” he said. The previous BJP government established seven universities of Rs 2 crore each, he added. “Several conditions like non purchase of vehicles, land or hiring faculties were imposed on these new institutions. For quality education the BJP government should’ve filled up vacancies,” he replied. Narayan insisted that these universities are essential. “The gross enrollment ratio (GER) is around 10 to 15 per cent, and that is why they’re needed."