Technical snag hits 2 varsities

For, the ordinance replacement bills for establishing these two universities passed by the Legislature in July this year, is yet to receive assent from Governor H R Bhardwaj.
According to Article 213 of the Constitution, ordinance replacement bills need to receive assent from the Governor within six weeks from the re-assembly of the Legislature. The last session of the Legislature which passed these bills commenced on July 9 and the six week period ended on August 21.

In others words, there is now no statute backing for these two universities.  University of Agricultural Sciences Bill -2009 which carves out a new agricultural university in Raichur and the University of Horticultural Sciences Bill -2009 with provisions for setting up a new horticultural university in Bagalkot were passed by the assembly and council during the July session. Previously, as both houses of Legislature were not in session, the State government had promulgated ordinances for setting up the two varsities. Both the varsities have started functioning and have commenced first year admissions.

Officials in the law department dealing with parliamentary legislation said untill the Governor provides assent to the two bills, day to day administration including meeting of the various academic bodies and the appointment process would take a backseat.

When contacted, sources in the Raj Bhavan secretariat said the Governor was still considering the provisions of the bills sent for accent by the Legislature. However, they said there would not be any adverse impact on the functioning of the varsities. The “ordinance impact” was still in effect for the horticulture varsity, while the Raichur varsity can take shelter under the original University of Agricultural Sciences Act 1963, they pointed out.

DH News Service