The Hindu : Karnataka News : Academic Council resents Govt. interference

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Academic Council resents Govt. interference

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 21. Bangalore University declines affiliation to some colleges based on norms and valid reasons. But the university has to reverse its decision in some cases when there is pressure from the Government.

This was the grouse of many members of the University Academic Council, who met on Monday.

The members, who rejected the proposal to grant affiliation to a B. Ed., college and a law college, said there was too much interference from the Government that diluted the autonomy of the university. There was much debate over this with some members proposing a resolution refusing affiliation to any college that lacked infrastructure.

In the case of a law college, the Government had asked the Academic Council to review the decision on the ground that the Bar Council of India and the Government had recognised the college.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, M.S. Thimmappa, said the issue of safeguarding the autonomy of the university would be taken up at the next Inter-University Board meeting. At the same time, the Universities Act gave the Government the power to reject, accept or modify all recommendations of the Local Inquiry Committee. The committees visit colleges seeking affiliation to verify if they have the staff and infrastructure.

S. Chandrasekhar, Professor of History and a member, asked for stern action against colleges that admitted students even before the university granted affiliation. The university can take criminal action against such colleges, he said.

List to be published

R.M.N. Sahai, university Registrar, said the notification was periodically issued listing approved colleges and asking students not to join other colleges. But there were colleges that claimed to be affiliated and students joined them.

When many members pointed out to instances of a large number of B. Ed. colleges coming up, most without university approval, Mr. Thimmappa said the university will get expert opinion to see whether criminal charges can be brought levelled against such colleges. A list of approved colleges will be notified before the extended time for admissions.

Failed students of MBBS, who were admitted to Bangalore University before 1996-97, will now come under the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, the Academic Council was informed. Even after a separate health university was established, Bangalore University used to conduct examination for these failed students till now.

Expert committee

The Academic Council resolved to have an expert committee to examine how studies in philosophy can be revived. The university's Department of Philosophy was on the verge of closure as only one postgraduate student enrolled. The members felt the subject can be taught at undergraduate classes as an ancillary. The Council deferred approval for starting five-year integrated honours courses in business studies.

A proposal to split the Faculty of Arts into one for social sciences and another for languages was deferred.

The move to have separate centres for studies, such as a School of Life Sciences, was approved.

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