Withdraw 'draconian' Universities Bill: Nanaiah

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 13. The former Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. M.C. Nanaiah, on Monday urged the Government to withdraw the ``draconian Karnataka State Universities Bill, 2000 which will cause further damage to the very structure of university education and administration''. He was participating in the resumed discussion on the Bill in the Legislative Council.

Questioning the Government's ``ambitious intention in restructuring the law which has been in vogue for the past 24 years'', he said the Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. G. Parameshwar, ``will forfeit his moral authority to continue'' in his post if the ``black Bill'' were to become law. Quoting the statement of objects and reasons given for the introduction of the Bill, he said the objectives of the Bill and the purpose of the intended amendments were not compatible.

He said his remarks should not be construed as a personal attack either on the Government or on the Minister concerned. ``Is the introduction of the Bill prompted by the Government's reported displeasure that it was neglected in the process of appointing vice-chancellors? Is it intended to accommodate Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe candidates in the posts following allegations that such posts are being given to upper castes only? Is it an inevitable measure to curb rampant corruption in university education? Is it the intention of the Minister concerned, who also runs educational institutions and was reportedly harassed by the Local Inspection Committee of the university, to address his personal grievances through the Bill?'', he asked. ``Why do you humiliate the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the universities by virtue of the constitutional position, by introducing this kind of dangerous Bill?'', he asked.

Referring to the ``disappearing'' faculties such as general science and humanities, he said, ``Engineers or people from information technology (IT) courses cannot run the Government on their own.''

Pleading with the Government not to be adamant in getting the Bill passed he said, ``The Government has already caused the damage by introducing the Bill. This can be undone only by it.''

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Section  : Southern States
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