In what appears to the continuation of the tug-of-war between Governor Vajubhai R. Vala and the State government, Raj Bhavan has returned the Ordinance on Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) University.
The Assembly in March had passed the Bill for setting up an exclusive university for studying and imparting training in subjects related to RDPR. However, the Bill is yet to be debated in the Legislative Council.
Defending the decision on the Ordinance, official sources said that the government’s intention was to avoid delay and allow the proposed university to start functioning from the coming academic year itself.
Highly placed sources in the Law Department disclosed that the Governor has returned the Ordinance on setting up of a RDPR University stating that an in-depth debate and discussion was needed before setting it up. It is said that Mr. Vala has asked the government to hold a discussion on the Bill before sending it for his assent.
The plan of the government is to set up the university on 353 acres of land in Gadag district, with an initial investment of Rs. 30 crore. The university will work with five training institutions, each specialising in different subjects associated with rural development and governance.
Earlier, the Raj Bhavan had sent back the proposal on appointment of Karnataka Law Commission Chairman S.R. Nayak as the Lokayukta, appointment of K.L. Manjunath as Upalokayukta, appointment of former MLC V.R. Sudarshan as chairperson of Karnataka Public Service Commission, the Bill on splitting up BBMP, and Ordinance on reserving percentage of construction works for SC and ST community in government departments.
The government will send its response after studying the objections raised by the Governor’s office.
T.B. JayachandraMinister for Higher Education, Law and Parliamentary Affairs
