This could happen only in Namma Bengaluru. At the on-going centralised counselling for admission to various post-graduate courses of Bangalore University, students who had completed post-graduate courses some years ago, also participated and got seats! They did this to avail of the free hostel and other facilities and monetary incentives offered by the university.
According to university officials, some students have become permanent residents of the university hostel, joining up for some course or other once every two years. University officials coordinating the ongoing centralised counselling process came across several students who have completed two or three post-graduate courses in BU and were seeking fresh admission to other subject courses claiming to be interested in the subject. Most of these cases are in the humanities department.
A senior officer told this newspaper on condition of anonymity that recently, freshers who had applied for seats in the economics and psychology departments could not get admission because most of the seats were filled by those who had already completed their post-graduation in other subjects.
“We were stunned by this development. Some students have been living in the university hostels for several years claiming that they are students of one or other department. They were also enjoying the lion’s share of the welfare schemes offered by various government agencies, including the university. Unfortunately, if anyone raises a voice they start protests. So we are helpless,” the officer said. Mr D.S. Krishna, a syndicate member of the university, says the issue is very sensitive and there is no immediate solution for it.
“We came to know about this problem a few years ago. Some students want to do two-three post-graduate degrees saying they are not getting jobs. Others join new courses saying the old one was not their choice and it is their right to pursue the course of their choice,” he said. “My suggestion to the university officials is that students should not be allowed to do two PGs from the university. Instead they can be offered a seat in affiliated private colleges. This will ensure social justice,” Mr Krishna said.