Udupi: R Vishal, Udupi DC has imposed a fine of Rs 1,123 crore on Manipal University for misusing the land given by the government.
DC, speaking to the media said that ‘almost 109 acres of land was been misused or is not used for the purpose it was sanctioned by the state government’. Now the university has been issued a notice answerable in 30 days.
The administration demanded the University either to come up with the fine or a acceptable clarification. He added that govenment is looking for a valid reasons for the misuse of the land.
He further said that ‘the land was given to the University years back under Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1964, and after confirming the purpose of the grants with State Revenue Department, and the misuse thereof, the action was taken’.
If the university fails to pay the fine or provide an acceptable justification, the land will be taken back by the administration he added.
Manipal University clarifies
Clarifying the alleged misuse of land by the Revenue department, the Registrar, Dr G.K.Prabhu said it was incorrect to say that Manipal University has not used the land in question to build infrastructure for educational purposes. Dr Prabhu emphatically said, “Every piece of land has been used for the purpose of education for which it was given to us about half a century ago”.
“We will seek clarification from the concerned department as it has been brought to our notice only today. The buildings existing in the said property are all authorized constructions. We have sought the permission and obtained license from the authority for all constructions. All the buildings existing in the said properties are constructed legally by obtaining Commencement Certificate, License and we even have the Occupancy Certificate and door numbers from the Municipality”.
It may be mentioned here that the notice says partial misuse of most of the surveys and only two plots of land have been shown to be wholly misused. Dr Prabhu said; “A similar notice was sent by the authorities in 2000. We appealed in the High Court of Karnataka and the honorable court upheld our appeal”.
Vide order number W.P.No.34051/2000, the High Court categorically said in its judgment that a mere re-arrangement does not amount to violation of the conditions of the grant. It further noted that Manipal University was entitled to use the land for whatever purpose connected to Education.
