BENGALURU: Syndicate members at universities in the state have been strictly prohibited from being nominated to Local Inquiry Committees (LICs) to visit affiliated colleges for the purpose of annual inspections.
The Higher Education Department has issued an order withdrawing an earlier government order that allowed Syndicate members in LICs and issued a revised/fresh order insisting on universities not to involve Syndicate members in LICs.
The order has been issued considering that a person cannot be a judge in his own case. “As the Syndicate members themselves are involved in taking decision on LIC reports on affiliation and renewal of affiliation of colleges, the Higher Education Department has taken this decision,” said a senior official.
The order also says universities must involve subject experts in LICs to maintain transparency, increase quality of higher education and submit unbiased LIC reports.
“For the LICs of state universities no syndicate members should be nominated from here on. The earlier order in this regard which asked to nominate two syndicate members on rotation basis every year has been withdrawn immediately,” read the order.
Highly placed sources in the department said this decision was taken in the lights of a recent issue in Bangalore University. BU Syndicate members were appointed to LICs and they had also started visiting colleges even before the government sent a reply to the a communication sent by the varsity’s Vice-Chancellor.
“We received a letter from the VC seeking information on whether Syndicate members could be allowed in LICs or not. But even before we could respond, we got to know that they started visits.
“Later we brought this to the notice of the minister and also informed him about the corruption allegations made against Syndicate members and also their lobbying to get in to LICs. Following that, this new order came out,” said a source.
Following the order, Bangalore University has decided to re-constitute LICs. Varsity Registrar Prof K N Ningegowda said, “We will recall the existing committees and re-constitute them by removing Syndicate members.”
Why LICs are a big draw
LICs have a big role to play in renewal of affiliation, permission to increase of intake, sanction of new courses, providing fresh affiliation and permanent affiliation for colleges. This will mean, LIC members can become familiar with college managements and later approach them for personal favours.
