The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Kanoria College not to change hands

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 08, 2005

Other States

Other States - Rajasthan

Kanoria College not to change hands

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, APRIL 7 . The Rajasthan Government today ruled out any move to privatise Kanoria Women's College here. The 40-year-old institution, which pioneered women's education in the State, would not be allowed to change hands either, the Minister for Education, Ghanshyam Tiwari, told the State Assembly.

The issue, brought before the House through a call attention motion by Congress MLAs, Sanyam Lodha and C.P.Joshi, generated some heat when the members alleged the role of a "friend of the Chief Minister'' in trying to "privatise'' the institution which is situated on 8.67 acres of prime land granted by the Government for a token annual lease of Re.1 in 1965.

The Congress members alleged a design behind the Government apathy towards the irregularities going on in the institution. "The intentions of the Government are doubtful,'' they said. The Government did not take action even when large scale anomalies were going on in the college in appointments and collection fees from the students, they charged.

Mr.Lodha alleged that salaries of the academic and the ministerial staff were not being paid after the Government had discontinued its grant.

The college management itself had sought to discontinue the grant as it wanted to privatise the college so that the prime property could be commercially used, he charged.

Dr.Joshi, citing the terms of the 1965 agreement noted that the land was given under lease to the industrialist, Bhagirath Kanoria, and not to any trust for running an aided institution affiliated to the Rajasthan University. "It is a prestigious institution. The Government should protect it,'' he said demanding constitution of a new managing body.

While the Speaker, Sumitra Singh, sharing the concern of the members said that Kanoria College would be run on the terms and conditions spelt out in the 1965 agreement, the Minister said if need be a new committee would be set up to run the institution. "It is public land. The Government will not allow it to change hands,'' he asserted.

Mr.Tiwari informed the House that the contribution of the Kanoria College management towards the running of the institution had been negligible. Of the Rs.12 crore spent on the college so far, the State Government had contributed Rs.6 crore as grant while another Rs.5 crore was collected as fees and as grant from the University Grants Commission. The management's contribution had been a mere Rs.1 lakh, he noted.

The Government first instituted an enquiry into the functioning of the college after complaints of irregularities, Mr.Tiwari said in a statement in the House.

That enquiry was by a three member team headed by the Joint Director, College Education, which gave its report in November 2004.

Presently another committee, headed by the Deputy Secretary, Education, was inquiring into the matter after a complaint from the college management that the first enquiry committee was prejudiced against them, Mr.Tiwari informed.

As for the demand for appointment of an administrator, the Minister said that it would only solve the problem temporarily.

Besides, the courts had set aside appointment of administers in at least three colleges in the recent past, he observed.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Rozgar Yojana targets will be met: Minister

Kanoria College not to change hands