MANGALORE: Syndicate of Mangalore University in its meeting last Monday had reportedly rejected a request from the State Government to grant affiliation to Master of Computer Application (MCA) course for 2006-07, started by an education institution at its degree college at Pandeshwar in the city.

Sources in the university told The Hindu, that the highest decision-making body of the university rejected the Government's request on the grounds that the education institution did not file an application to the university for the grant of affiliation. As per the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000 the education institution should have filed an application to the university within the specified period. Moreover the Inter-University Board (IUB) has banned the grant of affiliation to any postgraduation course in degree colleges in the State for 2006-07.

Sources said the college authorities insisted the university to grant affiliation as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had recognised the course. When the university refused they approached the Government to direct the university to grant affiliation. The Government wrote to the university to send an inquiry committee to the college and do the needful to grant the affiliation. In turn the university wrote to the Government explaining the circumstances under which it could not grant the affiliation. The college authorities approached the Government. To this, sources said, the Government recently wrote to the university to consider the course for affiliation but it was turned down.

Sources wondered how the Government itself could give scope for the violation of the Act and decision of the IUB by requesting the university to consider the course for affiliation. If the university granted affiliation it would only set a bad precedent, they said.

Admission

When contacted an authority of the college at Pandeshwar told The Hindu that the college had admitted 35 students for the course. The authority maintained that the students were admitted as the AICTE had permitted the course.

Asked about the future of students admitted without the permission of the university the authority said the college would ensure that the students did not get affected. The authority was not clear how the college would get the affiliation.

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