Education minister forced to withdraw Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2012

Education minister forced to withdraw Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2012

In the legislative assembly, the higher education minister C T Ravi was forced to withdraw the Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2012 on Wednesday.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said the Bill was introduced with an ulterior motive to benefit just two individuals – SC Sharma, vice-chancellor of Tumkur University, and H Maheshappa, V-C of Visvesvaraya Technological University.

Sharma and Maheshappa were selected to become V-Cs while serving in private colleges. As they were drawing a salary of Rs 1.4 lakh a month, the governor, also chancellor of univerities, through an order matched that amount after they assumed office in Tumkur and VTU. But in reality, these V-Cs were drawing a higher salary than chancellor. Other V-Cs draw Rs 75,000-80,000 a month.

An opposition to this proposal also came from ruling member. Tumkur rural MLA B Suresh Gowda, who earlier was syndicate member of Bangalore University, said this Bill was drafted by higher education council, where Sharma is one of the members.

Ravi made futile efforts to convince the members, finally, the government was forced to give up and withdraw the Bill.