State-run universities facing financial crises in Karnataka: Deve Gowda in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Terming state-run universities in Karnataka are on the deathbed, former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Tuesday urged the Centre to come to their rescue as they don’t have money to pay salaries to staff including lecturers.

The oldest institutions in the state- Mysuru University and Karnataka University are facing severe financial crises as they don’t have money. Several teaching and non-teaching posts have vacant in these two institutions, Gowda said while participating in a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha,

Pointing out that there were over 30 private universities functioning in the state and they were doing extremely well in providing quality education. However, the Centre should provide substantial grants to state-run universities without mixing politics. “I hope and trust my request will be considered by the central government," Devegowda said.

The former Prime Minister also suggested the Centre should avoid controversies over the appointment of Vice Chancellors of universities and governors.

"The responsibility of both the Centre and the state is now they should see that there should be no controversy on this issue, whether the appointment of Vice Chancellors. I don't want to raise that issue because of what is going on in some states, not only in Karnataka, but in several states, the appointment of governors was one of the major controversies," he said.

"That is where I draw the attention of the Education Minister to see these types of controversies should not be allowed to continue...I only appeal to your good self to see that some remedy should be there to solve this controversy," Devegowda said.