JOIN USFour prestigious universities in Karnataka have agreed to introduce a chapter on the RTI Act in the undergraduate courses of Arts stream from 2011-12.
An RTI activist, C N Kumar of Jayanagar in Bangalore told Deccan Herald that he sought information from the higher education department about the plans of the universities in the state to introduce RTI Act in the degree courses.
Recently, he received information from four universities namely Bangalore University, Gulbarga University, Karnatak University and Karnataka State Women’s University in Bijapur.
Separate subject
While the Bangalore University and Gulbarga University would teach this Act as part of the Indian Constitution, the Karnatak University and Karnataka State Women’s University will teach it as a separate subject.
The Bangalore University had issued a circular on November 16 last year to all affiliated colleges offering undergraduate (UG) courses that RTI Act will be part of studies on the Indian Constitution from the next academic year. There is no information whether the University of Mysore, Mangalore, Tumkur, Bellaryy, Davangere and Belgaum varsities are going to introduce RTI Act in the UG courses.
Confirming the introduction of the RTI Act in the curriculum, Bangalore University Vice Chancellor Prabhu Dev said UG students who have opted Indian Constitution will learn about RTI Act next academic year onwards.