JOIN USThe Academic Council of University of Mysore, decided to oppose one of the amendments to regulations on awarding PhDs, here on Wednesday.
The amendment was proposed by the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, on August 11, 2014.
As per the draft amendment, research centres affiliated to the varsity, where students are pursuing doctoral studies should be located within the jurisdiction of the University as per the Karnataka State University Act, 2000 and guidelines of University Grants Commission.
Earlier, the regulations had allowed varsities to award PhD degrees to candidates at any of the research centres affiliated to the varsity, which were within or outside the territorial jurisdiction of the varsity.
Amendment
Speaking on the issue, Vice Chancellor K S Rangappa said that the amendment would restrict the activities of the varsity. “The varsity is fighting a case regarding territorial jurisdiction. At such a juncture, the proposed amendments cannot be implemented,” he said.
Registrar Basavaraju said that the amendment was being imposed on government universities, while deemed universities are allowed to affiliate with research centres at will. The amendment will hinder the educational activities of the varsity, he added.
Sources said that territorial jurisdiction would prevent varsities from providing affiliations at will.
“Since, most of the time affiliations to institutions are given with different agendas, such as monetary benefits or political gains, territorial jurisdiction might seem valid. Despite territorial jurisdiction being an attempt to curb such practices, it will adversely affect the functioning of varsities,” the source said.
Varsities of the State should be allowed to reach out to different parts of the country, especially during a time when foreign varsities were opening affiliated institutions in the country. Hence, territorial jurisdiction for Indian varsities, might not turn out to be a good move, the source added.