For over two and a half months, government degree colleges across Karnataka have struggled to fully resume classes for the 2025-26 academic year. The core issue? A significant delay in appointing guest faculty, on whom many of these institutions heavily rely. This prolonged inaction has ignited widespread anger, prompting several student organizations to call for a statewide protest and strike beginning this Friday.
Leading the charge, the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has scheduled a statewide protest for Friday, September 26th. Following suit, the All India Democratic Student’s Organisation (AIDSO) is urging students to voluntarily boycott classes across the state on Saturday, September 27th, to amplify their demands.
Government Faces a Tough Dilemma
The State government finds itself in a precarious position due to a recent High Court of Karnataka order. This directive mandates that only guest faculty meeting University Grants Commission (UGC) criteria can be appointed. This ruling directly impacts over 5,000 guest faculty members who have dedicated more than a decade to government first-grade colleges but do not currently meet these updated UGC norms, leaving their careers in jeopardy.
Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar acknowledged the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need to consider the future of these long-serving instructors. “The matter was brought up in the last Cabinet meeting,” Minister Sudhakar shared. “The Chief Minister has entrusted the Law Minister with finding a viable solution, and discussions are actively underway.”
Dr. Sudhakar further elaborated that various solutions are being explored, including alternative arrangements for the affected faculty to continue their service. “We must comply with the High Court order while also ensuring any government decision is legally sound. With two additional related cases pending in the High Court, a comprehensive policy decision can be made once those orders are also issued,” he explained.
Students Demand Immediate Resolution
Kalyan Kumar V., Bengaluru district secretary for AIDSO, voiced the students’ exasperation: “Caught between the High Court’s ruling and the government’s indecision, hundreds of thousands of students are facing significant academic disruption. Despite our earlier petitions to the government through district administrations, the deadlock persists. Therefore, we are escalating our protest and calling for a class boycott on September 27th.”
Praveen H.K., State Secretary for Karnataka’s southern province of ABVP, criticized the government’s perceived lack of urgency. He stated that the government’s inability to appoint guest faculty more than a week after the High Court order highlights their “laxity and callousness.” ABVP has declared a statewide strike for September 26th.
Semester Exams Potentially Delayed
In light of the ongoing disruptions, Minister Dr. Sudhakar confirmed that the government is evaluating all possibilities, including postponing the upcoming semester exams. This consideration arises from the fact that classes have yet to fully commence in government degree colleges across the state, leaving students unprepared for scheduled assessments.