Vacate hostels by May 1, Bangalore University tells UVCE students

BENGALURU : A circular from Bangalore University’s student welfare directorate asking University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) students to vacate its hostels in Jnanabharathi has sent students into a tizzy over the past few days.
The April 27 circular, addressed to the chief wardens of civil engineering boys’ and girls’ hostels, said UVCE is no longer part of the university and is an independent institution. Since BU has no special allocation to spend on the engineering students, they should be asked to vacate the hostels by May 1, stated the circular.
UVCE — the oldest engineering college in Karnataka that was affiliated to BU —was made an autonomous, IIT-like institution through an Act passed in the assembly in 2021. Some 300 UVCE civil and architecture students stay in hostels on Jnanabharathi campus.
However, UVCE and BU officials said students have nothing to worry about. UVCE chairperson B Muthuraman said it was a mistake on the university’s part and hasbeen rectified. “There is no question of students vacating. We have an understanding with BU for one more year and students can stay there,” he said.
At the same time, BU vicechancellor Jayakar Shetty said: “Students can continue to stay in the hostels, but UVCE will have to pay for it. We are spending Rs 90 per student. The problem can be sorted if UVCE speaks to us. From April, the financial statements have to be separate for both institutions. Else, there’ll be audit objections. ” “While there is a circular from the government on extending support to UVCE, there is no clarity on the areas,” he added.
The All-India Democratic Students’ Organisation slammed the university’s “anti-student attitude”. The higher education department had said UVCE would be under BU for one more year and money has been sanctioned accordingly, the organisation said.