Varsity sidelines State government's directive; refuses nod to PG courses in 6 colleges

August 26, 2011

VC

Mangalore, August 26: In one of the significant decisions taken by the Mangalore University Academic Council on Thursday, the Council refused to blindly grant permission to start new post graduation courses in the government degree colleges as per the colleges' demand.

The decision has been taken in contrary to the recent directive issued by the State government instructing the seven government degree colleges that come under Mangalore University to introduce PG courses from the academic year 2011-12.

Addressing the second special meeting of the Academic Council at Mangalore University Senate Hall, University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankara Murthy said that the decision was taken based on the recommendations of the committees formed to examine the infrastructure facilities in seven colleges.

Accordingly, the Council has approved to start six PG courses in five colleges against the demand to start 17 PG courses by seven colleges. The Council did not grant permission to start 11 courses as demanded by six colleges. The Council declined the permission to start PG courses which was sought by two colleges namely Government First Grade College, Hebri, and Government First Grade College, Bantwal. On the other hand, the Committee permitted Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National Government First Grade College, Barkur, to introduce PG course in Maths, even though the College had sought permission for introducing PG courses in Economics, Physics, Maths, Psychology and Information Science.

The Council has granted fresh affiliation for M.Com course to Manjunath Pai Memorial Government First Grade College, Karkala and MA Kannada and MSW courses to Government First Grade College, Vittal. The request to introduce M.Com course in Vittal was denied. The Government First Grade College, Uppinangady, received permission to introduce M.Com course, while the College's plea to start MA Kannada course was denied. The Government First Grade College, Kushalnagar was denied of permission to start MA in Political Science while the college was permitted to introduce PG in Sociology.

Lack of infrastructure

The VC said that the reason behind not granting permission to start all the PG courses as per the government's instruction was due to poor faculty and infrastructure facilities in the colleges. “As per the committees observation, there is a huge shortage of faculty in most of the colleges. When the colleges are falling short of faculty members to teach degree students, how can they provide justice to the post graduate students?” he asked.

The Council also declined the recommendation of Joint Director Nataraj Urs who suggested to extend the number of seats in M.Com and MSW course in Barkur College. The VC declined the recommendation saying, “the college lacks infrastructure to teach the present number of students and it can not afford to teach more number of students.”

He informed that permission was granted to the colleges to start PG courses based on certain conditions. The government has laid down few norms with regard to the introduction of PG courses and the University can't break those norms while granting the permission. If the colleges come up with better infrastructure, permission will be granted to start post graduation courses from the next academic year, he stated. The University will send the order copy to the colleges on August 26 and the colleges are expected to finish the admission process within 10 days. The Vice Chancellor has asked the colleges to cover the syllabus within the prescribed time by engaging classes on holidays.

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News Network
November 5,2024

hdknikhil.jpg

Bengaluru: In a major legal twist, an FIR has been filed against Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, and their close associate Suresh Babu. The trio is accused of threatening a senior IPS officer and making false allegations against him. The FIR, registered by the Sanjaynagar police, follows a complaint by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M. Chandrasekhar, who heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Karnataka Lokayukta.

Allegations Against Kumaraswamy
The crux of the case revolves around ADGP Chandrasekhar's investigation into Kumaraswamy's alleged illegal approval of a mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals (SSVM). Kumaraswamy, currently serving as Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, has been accused of bypassing legal procedures in favor of SSVM, prompting Chandrasekhar to seek the Karnataka Governor's approval to pursue legal action.

In response, Chandrasekhar claims that Kumaraswamy lashed out publicly. On September 28 and 29, the former Karnataka Chief Minister held press conferences, accusing the officer of bribery, misuse of medical records, and personal misconduct. According to the ADGP, Kumaraswamy also issued a threat of transferring him to another cadre outside Karnataka.

Nikhil and Aide Suresh Babu Involved
Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is also implicated in the controversy. On September 29, Nikhil allegedly echoed his father’s accusations against Chandrasekhar. The third individual named in the FIR, Suresh Babu, a close aide to Kumaraswamy, is accused of escalating the issue by writing a letter to the Karnataka Chief Secretary. This letter, containing further allegations, was made public on social media, adding to the pressure on the senior officer.

Legal Action and Charges
Though Chandrasekhar's complaint was filed in October, formal legal proceedings began on November 4 after securing approval from the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM). The charges include Section 224 (threat of injury to a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A police source familiar with the case confirmed the charges.

ADGP Chandrasekhar's Response
In a strong rebuttal, ADGP Chandrasekhar addressed his team and the media, branding Kumaraswamy as an accused person trying to intimidate the SIT. He emphasized that these attacks were intended to undermine his officers' morale and interfere with the investigation.

“An accused, no matter how powerful, remains an accused. This attempt to instill fear in the minds of officers is meant to hinder justice," Chandrasekhar said in a written statement. Referring to Kumaraswamy, he added, "This accused, who is currently out on bail, has resorted to such tactics to shake our resolve."

Quoting Shaw to Drive the Point Home
In a dramatic conclusion, Chandrasekhar cited playwright George Bernard Shaw, saying, “Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it,” signaling his intent to remain unshaken in the face of public accusations and personal threats.

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News Network
November 5,2024

Mangaluru: Pilikula Biological Park has welcomed several exotic species, including a six-year-old Asiatic lion, a wolf, two gharial crocodiles, and four rare birds (two silver pheasants and two yellow-golden pheasants), as part of an animal exchange programme with Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha. The exchange was approved by the Central Zoo Authority, marking a major addition to Pilikula Zoo's growing collection.

Animal Exchange Details

Park Director H Jayaprakash Bhandary provided insights into the exchange programme. In return for the new arrivals, Pilikula Zoo will send four dholes (wild dogs), four rare reticulated pythons, two Brahminy kites, three Asian palm civets, and two large egrets to Nandankanan Zoo. Notably, all animals sent from Pilikula were born in the zoo, showcasing the zoo's success in breeding rare species.

Purpose of the Exchange

The animal exchange programme serves multiple purposes, including providing companions for solitary animals and preserving pure bloodlines. Pilikula Zoo already houses three lions, and the new male Asiatic lion was introduced as a companion. Since the number of Asiatic male lions in Indian zoos is relatively low, the zoo sourced this lion from the distant Nandankanan Zoological Park.

Care During Transport

To ensure the animals' safety and well-being during the 2,000-kilometre journey — the longest distance covered in Pilikula’s animal exchange history — two veterinary officers and eight caretakers from Nandankanan accompanied the animals. Both zoos will share equal responsibility for the care of the exchanged animals.

Future Animal Additions and Revenue Boost

Pilikula Biological Park, home to approximately 1,200 animals, birds, and reptiles, is one of India’s 18 large zoos. Discussions are ongoing for future exchanges with other prominent zoos, including Chhatbir Zoo in Punjab, Byculla Zoo in Mumbai, and the Madras Crocodile Bank. The zoo also plans to introduce rare species like the Anaconda and the Humboldt penguin, for which special enclosures will be built, thanks to donor contributions.

The addition of these rare animals and birds is expected to boost the zoo’s revenue, helping it become self-sustaining, Bhandary said.

Quarantine and Public Display

Before being introduced to the public, the new arrivals will spend around 15 days in a quarantine ward to adapt to the local environment. They will receive necessary vaccinations and treatments during this period, after which they will be displayed to visitors.

Record-breaking Exchange

This animal exchange marks a significant achievement for Pilikula Zoo, with the animals being transported over approximately 2,000 kilometres from Nandankanan Zoological Park. This sets a new record, surpassing the previous longest exchange with Udaipur Zoo in Rajasthan, which was around 1,700 kilometres.

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News Network
November 7,2024

Udupi, Nov 7: In a tragic turn of events, a young woman, Prasanna, aged 29, allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday, struggling to cope with the demands of work and motherhood after the birth of her daughter, according to police reports.

Prasanna had married on December 2, 2022, and was the mother of a 10-month-old baby girl. Her husband works in Bengaluru, while she lived with her in-laws, who, according to her family, treated her kindly.

In a complaint, Prasanna's mother revealed that her daughter often called her, expressing deep concerns over her readiness for motherhood. Despite receiving supportive care from her family, Prasanna felt unprepared and overwhelmed by the balance of work and home life that early motherhood required.

Her family shared that she had been undergoing treatment, but between 10 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, she allegedly took her own life at her husband’s residence. The Karkala Rural Police Station has registered a case and is conducting further investigations.

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