RGUHS students, faculty move HC against shift to Ramanagaram

The High Court of Karnataka has ordered that emergent notices be issued to the state government, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and the Public Works Department on a petition against the gazette notification to shift the varsity’s campus from Bengaluru to Ramanagaram.

The petition, filed by students and faculty at the RGUHS, argues that the government “erred” in its decision to relocate the university without assessing the difficulties that the employees, faculty and students would face. Not only that, the government “disregarded” the fact that the university utilises its own funds to provide the best infrastructure for students and employees, and that the government has not funded any of the activities of the university.

The university will function out of the deputy commissioner’s office in Ramanagaram till it gets a permanent campus.

The petitioners said it would be a burden on the university if it has to spend on the infrastructure in a temporary building and then spend on a permanent campus on the assumption that the acquired land would be free from litigation.

The petitioners told the court they are concerned about the difficulties that would arise from the relocation of the university’s campus, and sought stay on the notification.
Plea against KMVT Act.

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered that notices be issued to the state government and the Transport Department on a PIL challenging the definition of ‘cost of vehicle’ in the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1957.

The nonprofit, Dove Drive Without Borders Foundation, has challenged several sections and sub-sections of the Act, which permit Karnataka to levy higher tax on new cars than other states. The NGO pointed out that to increase the tax, Karnataka has indirectly altered other tax components, based on which tax under the Act is calculated, without actually amending the said law.

It has demanded that the quantum of tax to be imposed under the Act be calculated on the basis of the cost of the motor vehicle (price of the motor vehicle excluding all other tax components), and urged the court to declare the sections and sub-sections of the Act unconstitutional.

A division bench of Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice R B Budihal ordered the notices and adjourned the hearing.