JOIN USThe Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a bill to amend the Rai Technology University Act, which seeks to bar the private university from offering agricultural courses.
Law Minister Krishna Byre Gowda piloted the Rai Technology University, Bangalore (Amendment) Bill, 2018, on behalf of Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda. The amendment was necessary as the university lacked academic quality and facilities, he said.
“The university is not following the standards of the four state-run agriculture universities. Also, students have been protesting that against the disparity arising out of their degrees compared with the degrees awarded by this private university,” Gowda said.
The Rai Technology University was established in 2012. The amendment also seeks to disallow the university from conducting courses related to Earth Sciences.
Agriculture Minister N H Shivashankara Reddy said the private university had “serious violations” as it did not meet norms set by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. “The university has admitted 2,000 students in the last three years, whereas the state-run agricultural universities don’t have more than 1,500 students, who get admitted through the common entrance test.”
Gowda informed the Assembly that the Karnataka State Higher Education Council had set up a committee to review the functioning of the Rai Technology University. “According to rules, a review should be conducted after the university completes three years. The day the committee went to the university, everybody was absent. Prima facie, this showed that the university had malafide intent,” he said.
Chikkanayakanahalli legislator J C Madhuswamy (BJP) alleged that private universities were “very liberal” in awarding marks to students. “Private university students easily score 95-98%, whereas students in public universities have to struggle for it. The government should take control of the examination system in private universities.”
Some legislators suggested shifting students from the private university to the state-run agriculture universities.
“That will be difficult as there are about 2,000 students who have enrolled for the four-year course. The amendment ensures safeguarding the interests of existing students at the private university. They will be allowed to complete their course,” Gowda said.