BANGALORE: Three of the 11 universities in the State are currently without Vice-Chancellors, but the Government has sent its list of nominees for the search committees concerned and the selection will be made soon, Higher Education Minister D.H. Shankaramurthy informed the Legislative Council on Friday.

He told Aravind Limbavali (BJP) during Question Hour that the delay in finalising the nominees for the search committee arose because some of the names recommended turned out to be unsuitable. Prof. Ganjendragad has already served as Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University, and it will be inappropriate to include him in the search committee for the same university. Likewise, U.R. Ananthamurthy will not be a right choice for Bangalore University, where he often goes as a guest lecturer, he said.

However, the Government has finalised its choices and the process of selection will be completed soon.

The new Government has closed the file relating to a proposed Ordinance that would have removed the "eminent person" clause while nominating members to University Syndicates, Mr. Shankaramurthy said.

As Leader of the Opposition, he had opposed the move, but the Dharam Singh-led Ministry decided to push through an Ordinance. But since the new Government does not believe in tampering with the existing system of nominating Syndicate members, it has buried the issue once and for all.

Tumkur University

Tumkur University, bifurcated from Bangalore University, has become a university "confined to Tumkur district alone, as neighbouring Kolar is not keen on being affiliated to it." However, these are minor hiccups, and the Government is also addressing the problem of land for the campus. The 235 acres earmarked belongs to the Forest Department and it has to be transferred to the university, the Minister said.

Kannada teaching

The State Government will strictly monitor unaided and private schools and withdraw recognition to those that do not teach Kannada as a subject from Class I to V, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti said.

He told Marithibbe Gowda (Congress) during Question Hour that the Karnataka High Court has issued an interim order according to which the status quo is to be maintained on the language policy for schools.

Replying to the main question from M. Krishnappa (Congress), Mr Horatti said the stay order was passed on a petition moved by the Associated Managements of Recognised Unaided English Medium Schools.

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