Bill to revamp Universities
News

Bill to revamp Universities

February 22, 2018

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.

READ ALSO  Minister hints at closure of KSOU

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.

ABOUT

Mysuru’s favorite and largest circulated English evening daily has kept the citizens of Mysuru informed and entertained since 1978. Over the past 45 years, Star of Mysore has been the newspaper that Mysureans reach for every evening to know about the happenings in Mysuru city. The newspaper has feature rich articles and dedicated pages targeted at readers across the demographic spectrum of Mysuru city. With a readership of over 2,50,000 Star of Mysore has been the best connection between it’s readers and their leaders; between advertisers and customers; between Mysuru and Mysureans.

CONTACT

Academy News Papers Private Limited, Publishers, Star of Mysore & Mysuru Mithra, 15-C, Industrial ‘A’ Layout, Bannimantap, Mysuru-570015. Phone no. – 0821 249 6520

To advertise on Star of Mysore, email us at

Online Edition: [email protected]
Print Editon: [email protected]
For News/Press Release: [email protected]