Karnataka government allotted 2 acres of Mangaluru University land to trust: Association

MANGALURU: The All College Students’ Association has accused the government of acting against the prescribed norms, and illegally allotting two acres belonging to Mangalore University (MU), to a charitable trust.
Mohammed Adil Ameen, Mangaluru city president of the association, addressing reporters on Saturday, alleged that the government has allotted two acres to a trust. Alleging that the land allotted by the government was earlier with MU, he said that on August 24, 1981, the government had allotted a total of 234.38 acres, and in an order dated November 15, 1984, the government further allotted 53.75 acres.
In total, 288.13 acres were allotted to MU. However, recently, two acres under survey number 149 have been illegally handed over to the trust. The allotted land is in a prime location, situated close to the current indoor stadium, and the MU women’s hostel. Ameen alleged that two of the trustees of this charitable trust, are current syndicate members.
“The trust was started in 2003. As per the records available, it has not conducted any activities till 2021. There are also no records of having paid taxes. All the trustees of the trust resigned in 2021, and new trustees were appointed, including the current two syndicate members,” he said. Ameen demanded that the allotted land be handed back to MU. According to norms, the land belonging to MU cannot be given to anyone, and has to be used for only varsity activities.
“The land allotted to the charitable trust was reserved to construct the evaluation centre,” said Ameen.
When STOI contacted Ramesh K, syndicate member, he maintained that the allotted land is government land, and does not belong to MU. “It is clearly mentioned in the land records, and is already sanctioned to the trust. This is a baseless accusation, in order to divert the attention of the common man. The trust has not been allotted any land under MU.” PS Yadapadithaya, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University said that the land allotted to the trust belongs to the government, and not to MU. The land is adjacent to the Mangalagangothri campus in Konaje.