Guv rejects proposal to shift RGUHS to Ramanagaram

 Governor Vajubhai Vala has not agreed to the shifting of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health (RGUHS) administrative campus to Ramanagaram.

In his letter dated March 14 to Dr K S Ravindranath, vice chancellor of RGUHS, the governor said the academic year of the colleges will be completed in June 2017 and shifting of the administrative campus “will disrupt the current academic year as well as the examination process’’.

The governor in the letter added: “I, therefore, do not agree to the shifting of administrative campus as proposed. I further suggest submitting the report of the completion of the building and other necessary facilities required for smooth functioning of the university after the current academic year is complete.”

The government was planning to inaugurate the new campus in Ramanagaram on March 19 (Sunday). The invite does not have the name of the governor who is the chancellor of the university.

Three petitions are being heard in the Karnataka High Court questioning the shifting of RGUHS to Kandaya Bhavan in Ramanagaram without actually having a proper facility in place. Students, faculty members and principals of various colleges have challenged the urgency of the government in shifting the university.

Petitioners have contended that the shifting of the university is to appease voters from that area in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections next year. They recently met the governor and requested his intervention on the issue.

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also Ramanagaram district in-charge minister, has been in the forefront for shifting the university.

Minister apprises guv

The minister met the governor on Friday evening and explained that the decision to shift the university was aimed to expedite the ongoing development works in the proposed campus in Ramanagaram. Sources said that Shivakumar also informed Vala that the decision to shift the university was an old proposal.