Friday, January 22, 2010
Bangalore: Christ University, which is one of the six institutions in the State recommended by the Centre for withdrawal of the deemed university status, is planning to move the Supreme Court against the stand of the Union HRD Ministry.

Representative of Christ University’s management Fr. Jose told The Hindu, on Thursday, that the university was awaiting official communication from the Centre. “We learnt about the matter through the media. But, we will file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Government’s reported decision. The Government should issue a notice to us and hold a hearing”. During the hearing, which is mandatory as per law, the Christ University management will present its case, he said. In July 2008, University Grants Commission (UGC) had given them the status of deemed to be university for a period of five years. However, even as colleges demand their democratic right to be able to present their case, students in these universities are in a quandary. Unlike their counterparts in Tamil Nadu who have resorted to protests, students here are demanding explanations from colleges.

The tension among students is palpable in both the affected colleges in the city. Their concern stems from the fact that their investment in these courses (in terms of college fees) is much higher than in other universities, students claim. Some of these courses are not even offered by Bangalore University (under which they will come in the event of “derecognition”).

Angry students argued that the institution’s independence clearly had a flip side, as dissenting voices “were silenced” at a meeting. Students alleged that at a recent meeting, convened to “reassure” students following media reports, the management “unceremoniously silenced” a foreign student who raised questions about the rising fee structure and the quality of teaching. “If their democratic right gives them the power to move the court, does ours not enable us to raise a few questions?” asked a student, who alleged that the microphones were shut off when they asked questions. When contacted, Christ University officials said that the college had tried its best to dispel students’ anxieties and that there was no question of any confrontations as had been alleged.

Even in Jain University, on Tuesday, a meeting was held and students were assured that their degrees would indeed be protected. However, students continue to be worried.

Meanwhile, Jain University’s Joint Registrar Santosh M.S., who is in New Delhi to procure a copy of the Ministry’s review committee report, said their institution received the deemed to be university tag in July 2009. “The review committee which visited our institution in August that year submitted a report in October making several positive remarks.”