Move to split BU gets Cabinet approval

The State Cabinet on Thursday approved trifurcation of Bangalore University, based on the recommendation of a sub-committee headed by Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande.

There was no official briefing after the meeting as the legislature is in session.
According to sources, splitting Bangalore University was inevitable as it had 600 constituent colleges and 3.5 lakh students and the number was way too high for rendering efficient administration.

The jurisdiction of the three universities will be decided by the higher education department, sources said. All three universities will provide thrust to “research”and “teaching” and campuses could come up at Jnanabharathi, Central College and one in Kolar.

The then governor H R Bhardwaj had rejected a bill drafted by the previous BJP government to bifurcate Bangalore University and set up a new varsity - DVG Jnanavahini University - with headquarters at Hoskote.

Bhardwaj had stated that the move would destroy Bangalore University’s structure and divide its resources. However, the present government has been insisting on splitting Bangalore University. At least three reports had been placed before the government on splitting Bangalore University. A committee headed by K R Venugopal, principal, University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, had recommended that the university be split into five varsities. A committee headed by former vice-chancellor Dr N Rudraiah had recommended that the university be trifurcated.