Minister's assurance on varsity affairs

By Our Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA, NOV. 10. The Minister for Higher Education and Medical Education, Dr. G. Parameshwar, said here on Saturday that there was no scope for government interference in the academic affairs of universities under the amended Karnataka Universities Act.

``It is sheer nonsense to say that the Government likes to interfere in the academic matters of the universities, and those who complain about it have no knowledge about the amendment to the Act,'' he said.

Dr. Parameshwar, who was here to preside over the 12th convocation of Kuvempu University, told presspersons that the Government did not intend to disturb the autonomous character of the universities. ``What we expect of the universities is accountability in financial and administrative matters. Is it not fair on the part of the Government to expect accountability from the universities when it is spending crores of rupees on them?'' Dr. Parameshwar said the appointments to various posts in the universities had become smoother under the amended Act as the recommendations made by the Board of Appointments to the syndicate of the university concerned would have to be accepted. Similarly, the appointments of vice-chancellors had also become smoother, he said, citing the recent appointment of a new vice- chancellor to the Mangalore University as an example.

He said the appointment was made on the basis of the recommendation made by a panel headed by a representative of the Government, and comprising nominees of the UGC, the Governor (Chancellor) and the university syndicate. He said the Chancellor normally consulted the Government on the appointment of vice- chancellors as a matter of courtesy though he or she was not obliged to do so under the provisions of the Act.

Dr. Parameshwar said the Government was preparing the ground for the establishment of deemed universities while waiting for the case questioning the setting up of such universities to be disposed of by the Supreme Court. He said eight institutions had sent in their applications seeking deemed university status.

Denying that the slowdown in the IT industry had reduced the scope to go in for courses in information technology, the minister termed the slowdown as a passing phase. The slowdown was mainly restricted to the U.S. He hoped the IT industry would return to normality soon.

Dr. Parameshwar said the Government had decided to spend Rs. 23 crore in 18 months for the promotion of computer science in the government arts, science and commerce colleges in a phased manner. So far, six government colleges affiliated to Bangalore University had been covered under the programme which was aimed at increasing the usefulness of conventional degree courses by supplementing them with the computer education.

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Section  : Southern States
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