Govt won't tinker with autonomy of Kannada varsity: minister

Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayareddy promised on Monday that the government had no intention to tinker with the autonomy of the Kannada University, Hampi.

He was addressing reporters after a meeting of thinkers on the campus of the university.

The minister said there would be no change in the autonomy, teaching methods and educational aspects of the universities. There were some administrative issues and the amendments were being brought in to sort them out and pave the way for uniformity in the functioning of the universities.

The amendments would result in transparency in the working of the universities. The vice chancellors would continue to be the recruitment authorities, the minister said.

During the meeting, the thinkers warned that a statewide agitation would be staged if the minister went back on his words.

K Marulasiddappa, chairman of the Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati Authority, quoted the minister as promising that the university would be kept out of the purview of the proposed bill to amend the Karnataka State Universities Act.

He said the Kannada University was research oriented and the minister was apprised of this fact.