Bill Trifurcating Bangalore University Passed in Assembly

Bengaluru, July 20, 2015: Karnataka Legislative Assembly today passed by voice vote a bill aimed at trifurcation of Bangalore University.

The Karnataka state Universities (Amendment) bill, 2015 that was tabled in the House during the first phase of the current monsson session in Belagavi was presented by Higher Education and Tourism Minister R V Deshpande.

The bill considers it necessary to amend the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000 (Karnataka Act 29 of 2001) to bring reforms in the governance and administration of the Bangalore University and improve academic quality by trifurcating it.

Deshpande also said that the amendment has also been brought for changing the name of the University from 'Bangalore University' to 'Bengaluru University'.

According to the bill, 'The Bangalore University' with campus at Gnanabharathi is having jurisdiction over the areas of several legislative assembly constituencies in Bengaluru urban, rural and Ramanagara district.

The new university called Bangalore Central University would be established as an affiliating university with headquarters of Bangalore Central College campus with territorial jurisdiction over the areas of about 13 assembly constituencies of Bangalore Urban district, it said.

Another new university called Bangalore North University would be established as an affiliating university with headquarters at Jangamkote (Sidalagahatta taluk) (temporary camp office at Kolar PG Centre) with territorial jurisdiction of seventeen constituencies in Bengaluru Urban, and Rural, Chikkaballapur, and Kolar districts.
The bill also said there will be recurring approximate expenditure of Rs 10 crore per annum by the proposed legislative measure.

Participating in the debate, C T Ravi (BJP) said that the joint select committee should be constituted to study about dividing Bangalore University.

A few MLAs suggested that Bengaluru University continue be the name of one University and the the other two should be with different names.

Several others suggested that let Bangalore University be for Colleges in Bengaluru and separate University be created for Kolar and Chikkaballapura.

Replying to this, Deshpande said having separate University for Kolar and Chikkaballapura is not a viable option.

PTI