Manipal University fined Rs 1,123 crore for misusing land grant

Manipal, Jun 26: The Udupi district administration has imposed a penalty of Rs 1,123 crore on Manipal University for misusing the land granted to it by the government.

Deputy Commissioner Dr R Vishal told reporters here on Thursday that the university had used 109 acres of land for purposes other than it was sanctioned.

He said there were complaints of misuse of land by the university and that the district administration had given it 30 days to respond to the demand notice served on it as directed by the State government. The notice specifies that the university has to either pay the fine or clarify within 30 days the legitimate reasons for the partial or full usage of the 109 acres.

The land was sanctioned five decades ago and the action was taken after the revenue department sought clarifications on the change of land use following allegations of it being misused by the university.

Hostels for NRIs have been constructed on the land in violation of the purpose it was granted for. He said that it was for the university now to pay up the fine or come up with justifiable clarifications, failing which the government will take over the 109 acres, Vishal said. He said the demand notice clearly mentioned the details of the violations in connection with the survey numbers.

The notice also questions the university’s right to change the purpose of usage with different land having different survey numbers. The land was allotted to the university under the Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1964, he said.

Udupi City Municipal Council president Yuvaraj said he had directed the Udupi Urban Development Authority to examine the permission issued to the university to construct hostels. The invalidated no objection certificate is also being scrutinised, he said.

In a clarification issued to the press, Manipal University Registrar Dr G K Prabhu said it was incorrect to say that the varsity had not used the land in question to build infrastructure for educational purposes.

“We will seek clarification from the department concerned as the issue has been brought to our notice only today. The buildings existing in the said property are all authorised constructions. We have sought permission and obtained licence from the authority for all construction. All the buildings existing in the said properties are constructed legally by obtaining commencement certificate, licence and we even have the occupancy certificate and door numbers from the municipality.”

Dr G K Prabhu, Registrar, Manipal University: 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 authorised constructions. We have sought permission and obtained licence from the authority for all constructions.