Tumkur University runs on state, private funds

BANGALORE: Even after six years of existence, Tumkur University has not fulfilled all University Grants Commission (UGC) norms to secure funding. Instead, the university has been running on money channeled by the state government through specific schemes and by private donations. Vice-Chancellor said that the university does fulfill all criteria and he would apply for grant next week.Started in 2004, Tumkur University has always been mired in controversy-- from Vice-Chancellor’s appointment, setting up office on rented premises to appointment of lecturers and assistant professors. The university absorbed the Government College of Arts and Government College of Science as its constituent colleges but funding from UGC did not come through as neither did they have their own premises nor teachers.In March this year, Vice- Chancellor Dr S C Sharma had even written a letter to the the DC seeking land in Gulahalli for its own premises.But in June, in reply to an RTI application, the university registrar stated that the university now has its own campus. Professor Sharma admitted to having written the letter but explained that the university now indeed has its own campus situated right behind the University College of Arts and University College of Science. “The campus belonged to the government colleges. A tennis academy and a youth services cell was operational there. After asking them to move, we have a total katha record for 70 acres of land but occupy around 45 acres,” he said.The extra land sought was to set up more centres of research, he added.For the last several years, boys hostels function out of rented premises near Gayatri Kalyana Mandapa and the hostel is maintained out of the scholarship provided by Social Welfare Department for SC/ST students and Backward Class students.Verdict in TU’s favourIf infrastructure is a problem, a case filed by associate professors in Karnataka HC, a year back, led to assistant professors and guest lecturers teaching PG students.“Since, we were unable to appoint teachers until after the court verdict we were unable to seek UGC grants. On Thursday afternoon, the verdict was delivered in our favour.Associate professors will now join work from next week. With this, we have fulfilled UGC norms and we would apply a per forma with UGC seeking grants next week,” he said. 

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