The new order of the Education department on constituting Development Committees at government first grade colleges has opened a pandora’s box of new problems. The order directs the principals to take the approval of the respective minister for the list of the members.

The 20-member committee used to have eight elected representatives and 12 members selected by the MLA of the respective constituency. But, according to the new order, it has been made mandatory to take the approval of the District in-charge Minister for the list of 12 members, giving a political twist to the issue.

The committee, for which the MLA is the president, used to have elected representatives, retired education experts, traders, industrialists, members belonging to SC/ST and backward communities and women representatives. The proportion used to be three retired education experts, three local traders and three industrialists.

The committee is constituted for the overall development of the colleges — both academic and extra-curricular activities. Earlier, when the MLA used to select the members, they were usually his well wishers. So, there were no problems.

Now, with the District in-charge Minister having the last say on the list, the opposition parties are worried. While the Minister belongs to the Congress party, some of the MLAs in the district are from the JD(S). Inclusion of Congressmen in constituencies represented by opposition MLAs is being criticised. It is said that this led the supporters of JD(S) MLA D C Thammanna, of Maddur, to observe a stir in the government college at K M Doddi.

Speaking to this paper, Thammanna said, he donated the land for the college and extends all help for its development. “The new order is a conspiracy of the Congress leaders, who run private colleges. This has upset my supporters, who are staging a protest,” he said.

Melkote MLA K S Puttannaiah said, a majority of the committee members should have knowledge of the education field. The new order facilitates the workers of a particular political party to join the team. He added that he would raise the issue in the Assembly session.