The trifurcation of Bangalore University has hit another snag: two universities are now fighting over one of the city’s most centrally located and prestigious auditoriums. Both, the parent Bangalore University and Bengaluru Central University, are in a race to acquire ownership of the Jnana Jyoti Auditorium, which is an important source of income, and adds a little more than Rs. 1 crore to the varsity’s coffers every year.
The auditorium was established in 1999. It boasts a seating capacity of 1,100 and is often used for several academic and cultural programmes by various departments of the university.
“At present, we charge Rs. 1.2 lakh per day for the use of the auditorium. We do not charge any fees if our departments want to use it,” said Bangalore University’s Registrar (Administration) K.N. Ninge Gowda.
The auditorium was part of the Bangalore University but with the central college campus premises now falling under the Bengaluru Central University, officials of the parent university are likely to present a case to use it as a common asset. Apart from the auditorium, the building also houses a board room and a seminar hall.
Mr. Gowda said that they would appeal to the government to allow students of all three universities to use it free of cost. Harshitha R., a student who was nominated to the university’s academic council, said that it would be ideal if students of all the universities were allowed access to the auditorium.
Sources say that while higher education authorities may give in and allow the auditorium to be a common asset, there still no clarity on over which university would pocket the revenue the auditorium brought in.
Sources in the Higher Education Department said that they would soon convene a meeting to sort these issues out also make a list of common assets and assets and liabilities of the three universities so that the process of transition for the next academic year is a smooth one.
