Govt faces backlash for giving Mandi university building to private college

The state government is facing criticism over its recent decision to hand over a newly constructed building, meant for Sardar Patel University, at Sundernagar in Mandi district to MLSM College. The building, funded under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), was completed in 2020 but remained unused until now. The decision has sparked a heated debate, with several local leaders and university officials questioning the rationale behind the decision.

A controversy erupted after the Directorate of Higher Education announced on December 2 that the building would be handed over to MLSM College. According to Amarjeet K. Sharma, Director of Higher Education and State Project Director for RUSA, the building’s handover followed discussions at the government level. It was decided following discussions and a meeting on October 5, 2024, to transfer the building to MLSM College, especially after the status of Sardar Patel University was upgraded from a cluster university to a full-fledged state university.

Sharma defended the move saying it would benefit students and the region, as the building, which had remained idle for several years, would be put to proper use. He said that the handover would enhance the educational environment at MLSM College and render support to its academic goals.

However, the decision has faced opposition. OP Kapoor, president of the Senior Citizens Council in Mandi, has expressed disappointment over the decision and called it unexpected. He urged the government to reconsider the decision. “Sardar Patel University is still in its early stages and urgently needs adequate infrastructure to function effectively. The university is already struggling with a shortage of resources and giving away its existing infrastructure to a private institution is a cause for concern,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of Sardar Patel University, Lalit Kumar Awasthi, has also objected to the decision. He said that the university administration had previously planned to use the building for own academic activities but was thwarted by internal politics. “We are preparing a formal request to be sent to the state government and the Directorate of Higher Education to review their decision,” he added.

Awasthi criticised internal university politics and alleged that some individuals there had incited students to oppose the original plan for the use of the building. “It is unfortunate that some people used students for their political gains,” he added.

Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and BJP spokesperson Rakesh Jamwal also criticised the state government over the issue. They accused the government of undermining the newly established Sardar Patel University. “First, the government reduced the university’s jurisdiction from five districts to three, and now it is giving away vital infrastructure to a private college. This is a blow to the university’s growth,” Thakur said. Both leaders urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to reconsider the decision and prioritise the development of the university.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur said that it was a public demand to give this building to MLSM College at Sundernagar, which is one of the prominent and old educational institutions in the region. So, the government took the decision in public interest.