Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jun 25: The Udupi district administration has imposed a heavy fine on Manipal University here for alleged 'misuse of land'.

The Manipal University, which is known the world over for its high educational standards and which was recently ranked as the top university in India among private institutions, has been asked to pay up a whopping Rs 1,123 crore within 30 days.

The district administration has sent a notice to the University in this regard, sources said. Deputy commissioner R Vishal has said that this step has been taken after discrepancies were found in land conversion by the University.

The University had been granted 269 acres of land from the government to build the educational centre. It is alleged that out the 269 acres, only 52 acres of land was used for its actual purpose, while the rest 109 acres were used for some different purpose (construction of hostel building). The University then applied to the government for conversion of the 109 acres, and during examination of the plea, the district administration reportedly found that the University had constructed a building on this land without approval and even before its conversion.

Hence, as per the Land Act of 1964, the district administration has, in a notice dated Thursday June 25, asked the University to pay Rs 1,123 crore within 30 days, it is learnt.

Manipal University clarifies

Meanwhile, in a statement to the media, Manipal University clarfied that there has been no misuse of the land granted by the government, and that the allegations were incorrect.

Manipal University 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 department concerned 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," Dr Prabhu said.

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 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," adds the clarification from Manipal University.