Raj to probe bill seeking regulation of ‘non-existent’ varsity

GOVT HAD TO WITHDRAW THE BILL AFTER A BJP LEGISLATOR CLAIMED IN THE HOUSE THAT NO SUCH INSTITUTION EXISTED IN SIKAR

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government will order a probe on how a Bill to regulate a “non-existent” private university was introduced in the state assembly without verifying the existence of the institution, the state’s higher education minister said.

According to officials familiar with the matter, official orders for the probe will be issued by Thursday night.

The bill for the establishment of the Gurukul University in Sikar was introduced in the assembly on February 24. On Wednesday, the government had to withdraw the bill after a

BJP legislator claimed on floor of the House that no such institution existed in Sikar, as claimed by the government.

As per the Bill, the Gurukul University is spread across 80.31 acres, has 28 administrative blocks, 155 academic blocks, and 38 laboratories.

Deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore brought the matter to the attention of speaker CP Joshi and higher education minister Rajendra Yadav. Rathore stated that the facts mentioned in the bill regarding the infrastructure were fake and there is no construction on the land as mentioned in the bill, a factual report was sought from Sikar collector, which verified that there was no construction.

“On March 19, I visited the University site and there was nothing. For the first time, a Bill tabled in the assembly, which was passed by the cabinet was withdrawn. For several years, I have been travelling from Jaipur to my assembly (constituency) in Churu via Sikar. I was surprised to have not seen any sign of the university. I contacted the patwari (local revenue officer) and reached the spot to see nothing was there,” the BJP leader added.

Yadav moved a proposal to withdraw the bill. Speaking to reporters, the minister said “A high-level probe will be conducted of the issue and whosoever has done wrong in this matter, action will be taken.”

“Rathore gave a photo an open field, whose location is not certain but still, the government took the cognizance as the opposition leader raised the issue. Thereafter, the district collector was asked to submit a factual report and it was found that the university shown was not at the same location which was shared with us,” added the minister.

He added that the verification committee claimed to be in possession of photo and video evidence of the university’s presence. Verification committee member professor Jayant Singh said, “We submitted the report of the site, where we were asked to go by government. We did videography and took photos of the site. Before us, another committee had verified the documents.”

Leader of opposition, Gulab Chand Kataria said, “It is unfortunate that a private university bill has to be withdrawn. I have never seen such a situation.”