Hubballi: The survival of government schools has been a debate for some years. Whenever the government mulls over shutting down government schools citing lack of students, people have raised their voice against it.Many government schools face a shortage of infrastructure. However, a semi-government college, run by the Gadag-Betageri City Municipal Council (GBCMC), had triggered a controversy by renting out eight of its classrooms and play ground to a private institution, Kalyanasiri Foundation’s Kalyanasiri Arts and Commerce College, Gadag. After strong opposition from public, GBCMC has withdrawn its decision and ordered the private college to vacate the Municipal College premises.Sadanand Pilli, opposition leader, GBCMC, said the college, which includes from Class 5 to Class 10 for the past 130 years, has been meeting the educational needs of poor and middle class people. “When the proposal was placed in the GBCMC’s general body meeting in December 2017, we had rejected it as the required files were not enclosed. We wondered how a private college had started functioning from this academic year,” he added.Annadani Hiremath, who served the municipal college as a senior lecturer for 34 years, expressed regret over the management committee’s move to rent out the premises. “When we had suggested starting a degree college under GBCMC 15 years ago, officials and elected representatives had rejected it. It’s an effort to privatise the institution,” he said.Prof B B Goudar, one of the founders of Kalyanasiri Arts and Commerce College, declined to comment on the issue.GBCMC member Madhav Ganachari said that according to Section 72 of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964, the municipal council shall not lease its property without approval of a general body meeting. “This happened due to a nexus of officials, members and the private institution. However now, GBCMC has rectified its blunder by instructing the private college to vacate the premises,” he said.OfficialspeakA private college was functioning in the Municipal College premises by creating fake documents of lease. We have issued a show cause notice to principal for not informing us about the same. We have realized that the decision to rent out the premises was not approved in the general body meeting. As opposition members have alleged the involvement of members of the GBCMC standing committee on education, we have also instructed officials to suspend the committee till the investigation concludes. We are committed to preserve prestige and pride of century old Municipal High School and CollegePrakash Bakale | president, GBCMC

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