Govt to wait and watch over RGUHS refusal to provide funds

The state government has decided to adopt a "wait and watch" policy over Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences' (RGUHS) decision not transfer Rs 580 crore for the construction of a campus and Health City at Ramanagaram.

The university's syndicate and senate meeting on Friday unanimously agreed to sanction only Rs 40 crore for the construction of an administrative block and not Rs 580 crore that the government demanded.

"I am not aware of any meeting of RGUHS or its resolutions," Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, Medical Education Minister, told DH.

The Minister added: "Let them write to the government first or submit resolutions. The government will take an appropriate decision only after receiving any communication from the university in this regard."

The government was firm on RGUHS transferring Rs 200 crore to the Public Works Department and deposit the rest into an escrow account for the purpose.

As the government kept up its pressure, the RGUHS top brass met Governor Vajubhai Vala against such a demand. The governor directed the government to maintain status quo till further notice.

Meanwhile, the high court was moved over the demand. The court directed RGUHS to sanction only Rs 40 crore for the construction of the administrative block.

"The government can't demand the university funds for construction of the Health City," said C H Ashwathnarayan, a senate member, who attended the meeting.

According to him, the Health City is a government scheme, while the RGUHS is an academic body.

"The government should bear expenses for its scheme and it is improper to seek money collected from students to run the varsity for the government's project. Even the high court has clearly stated this in its order," he added.

There won't be any progress on the issue as the ball is in the governor's court, he added.

The syndicate and senate meeting has also rejected the design finalised by the government for the campus and Health City on the ground that it was not suitable for the Health City.

It was decided to form a team comprising representatives from RGUHS, syndicate, senate and government to finalise a new plan for the administrative block and the campus and meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explaining reasons for rejecting the government's design.