Bengaluru: Even as the delay in appointment of Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to University of Mysore (UoM) and many other Universities in the State continues, the Karnataka State Universities (KSU) Bill 2017, that aims to overhaul the functioning of public Universities was passed in the Legislative Council yesterday.

The Bill was passed along with the changes suggested by a Select Committee to which the Bill was referred. The Bill proposes reforms in the appointment of VCs, financial practices of Universities and recruitment of teaching staff.

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, who piloted the Bill, claimed that the Bill is aimed at revamping the administration of all Universities and put an end to rampant corruption in almost all Universities.

According to the Bill, a Search Committee will be set up three months before an incumbent VC is due to retire. The Search panel has now five members while it was four earlier and the Government will have two nominees to have a greater say in the selection process. However, the Governor as Chancellor retains the power to appoint the VC.

The VC candidates should have a minimum 25 years of teaching experience including ten years as Professor. An Infrastructure Board has been proposed, whose approval becomes mandatory for a University to take up any work costing over Rs. One crore. A Purchase Committee will also be set up to curb “extravagant” expenditure.

Search Committee Meeting on Mar.3: Meanwhile, the Search-cum-Selection Committee Meeting for the post of VC of both University of Mysore and Bangalore University has been fixed for Mar.3. The meeting will finalise the list of names to fill the VC post. The list will be sent to the Higher Education Department as per the Universities Act.

Former VCs not happy: The Forum of Former Vice-Chancellors of Karnataka State Universities is not happy with the way the present Bill is passed in the Legislative Council.

The President of the Forum, former VC of UoM, Prof. S.N. Hegde, speaking to Star of Mysore here this morning, said: “An attempt is being made to take away the autonomy of the Universities and it is not a good sign. All we are saying is that the Universities should enjoy autonomous status but they should also be held accountable for their actions. It should be, however, free from political interference.”

The one welcome change is the renaming of Registrar (Evaluation) as Controller of Examinations. “World over the Universities enjoy total autonomy. We had written to the Council Members including Basavaraj Horatti, who is an educationist. However, it looks like they have not considered any views we had suggested as we do not have any influence,” he said.