Date:26/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/26/stories/2007092657011600.htm

National

Varsities vie for Central status

Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement to have at least one Central university in each State has drawn battlelines in Jammu and Kashmir with all the universities staking claim for the high profile status.

While Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is silent over the issue, the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in remote Rajouri district has taken the lead in making a strong case.

Last week Mr. Azad, who is also the Chancellor of BGSBU, was urged by the Vice Chancellor, the faculty and students to plead their case for Central university status to the university.

During his visit to the university, located in Dhanore, around 14 km from Rajouri, Mr. Azad made it public that both Kashmir and Jammu universities were fighting for the status.

However, not much is known about the Mata Vaishnodevi University near Katra and the Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipore (Kashmir).

Sources, however, said that the Chief Minister’s office has not made any recommendation to the Central government so far.

Dr. Singh who attended a special convocation in Jammu University last month also did not make any commitment but reiterated that the State will have one Central University.

Making a case for BGSBU, its Vice Chancellor Masud Chowdhary said that by all means it deserves the status of a Central university as “it will be the highest seat of learning for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The university which in a short span of time has made a mark in the high education sector with market oriented subjects is facing a financial crisis and “in case Central University status s granted, the problem will be resolved.”

“So far we have spent Rs 15 crores but a lot more needs to be done and our income from Waqf is as meager as Rs. 2 crore which is supposed to be funding for the university.”