Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has reportedly asked Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi to resolve the issue relating to payment of salaries to guest lecturers appointed at Mandya University.

A statement issued from the office of Madhu G. Made Gowda, MLC, said Mr. Gowda and Ravikumar Ganiga, Mandya MLA, met Mr. Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday (August 18) and apprised him of the financial crisis being faced by Mandya University.

The crisis had arisen after the Higher Education Department had issued directions to universities, including Mandya University, to pay the salaries of guest lecturers appointed to government first grade colleges from the fees collected from students.

However, the Government College (Autonomous), Mandya, was upgraded into Mandya University from the academic year 2019-20 and guest lecturers required to meet the additional academic workload have been appointed by the Department of Collegiate Education, which has also been paying their monthly salaries.

“More than 150 guest lecturers are currently working at Mandya University during the current academic year. An estimated ₹6 crore is required annually to pay their salaries. Given the university’s present financial position, it is not in a position to pay the salaries of all the guest lecturers,” said a statement from Mr. Gowda.

The legislators pointed out that the latest government order would affect not only the very existence of the university and the livelihood of the guest lecturers, but also the future of thousands of students aspiring to pursue higher education. They said university officials were not resolving the issue even though the payment of salaries to the guest lecturers by the government had been approved by the Chief Minister. Hence, they urged Mr. Shivakumar to intervene.

Responding to the appeal, the Chief Minister told the Higher Education Minister, who was also present, to look into the matter and resolve the issue urgently, the statement added.

Published - August 18, 2026 07:32 pm IST