The cash-strapped Bengaluru Central University (BCU) has written to the Higher Education Department asking the government to direct nine institutions and associations to vacate the varsity’s land that they are currently using.
The institutions are the Indian Council of Historical Research, University Grants Commission, All India Council For Technical Education, Karnataka Association for Advancement of Sciences, Central Sahitya Academy, Bangalore University College Teachers Association, Forum of Former Vice Chancellors and the publication division of Kannada university.
University officials have written to Principal Secretary Jawaid Akhtar as well as Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi.
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In the letter, they have also demanded that the post-graduation block in the Central College campus — currently in the the possession of the parent Bangalore University — be immediately transferred to BCU. They have also urged the government to direct the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar School of Economics to return the land allotted to them, as classes have already commenced on Bangalore University’s Jnanabharathi campus.
An official of the varsity said that the newly carved Bengaluru Central University is grappling with funds and resource shortage.
“We desperately need to acquire these land back so that we can develop it and use it for new departments that we want to start. Earlier, the syndicate of the parent Bangalore University had handed over the land to various organisations as they had a surplus. But now the situation has changed and we want all the land back,” a senior BCU official said.
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The university decided to initiate this move after the Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KHEC) constructed a building in the Prasanna Block. It asked the department to ensure that KSHEC does not encroach on land in the Prasanna Kumar Block. However, KSHEC authorities have denied encroaching on any land.
Various writers and scholars who met at the Bengaluru Central University on Tuesday urged the government to allocate ₹100 crore for development of the newly carved out university.
Noted writer K. Marulasiddappa said that there is a need for the government to ‘generously’ grant money for development of the university. Other eminent personalities, including Chandrashekar Patil, T.N. Seetharam, G.K. Govind Rao and Kannada Development Authority Chairman S.G. Siddaramaiah, attended a meet to chalk out plans for the varsity.
Former vice chancellor Prabhu Dev said that besides shortage of funds, the newly carved out universities would face a severe shortage of faculty.