PUNE: Formation of separate university dedicated to one faculty or stream is impractical and undesirable, reacted former chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) and senior scientist Prof Yashpal Sharma here on Wednesday.

He was speaking to media on the sidelines of Bharat Asmita Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar ceremony, organised by MAEER’s MIT. The state government has proposed to start a separate technical university to conduct and regulate engineering and technical courses.

Prof Yashpal disapproved the scheme and said, “The university is meant to be a plethora of knowledge of all kinds. Compartmentalising university to one faculty is undesirable. If universities are overburdened, we can have smaller varsities catering to manageable portion of affiliated colleges.” Prof Yashpal declined to comment on deemed university issue saying the matter was subjudice.

Earlier, MAEER-MIT conferred Bharat Asmita Jeevan Gaurav Puraskars, comprising Rs 1.25 lakh cash, citation and memento. Indian School of Business dean Ajit Rangnekar, MP Deepender Singh Hooda, journalist P Sainath, film maker Jabbar Patel, IIT professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy are recipients of this year's awards under various categories.

Sudha Murthy offered the prize money to MIT to bestow gold medal upon the topper in computer science stream. Founder director of MAEER’s MIT Vishwanath Karad, chairman of selection committee Raghunath Mashelkar, Vijay Bhatkar, Mayor Mohan Singh Rajpal, convener of the award committee Rahul Karad were present on the occasion.