"It is essential that the bill for the conversion of IT-BHU to IIT-BHU be passed at the earliest," said Giridhar Malviya, former chief justice (Allahabad High Court) and grandson of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, during his visit to the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IT-BHU) on Wednesday.

Malviya, further added that IT-BHU had been a temple of excellence for more than 90 years but due to greater funding and higher government support to the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), they were treated to be ahead of IT-BHU.

According to him, being within the university, the IIT would remain an integral part of BHU. He also said "the degrees of the students for the past three years are pending, which is why it is imperative that the bill be allowed to go through Rajya Sabha unhindered and all the concerns regarding the bill can be addressed later."

While on his visit to the university, Malviya also inaugurated a refresher course on 'Manvadhikar avum Moolya Shiksha' at the UGC Academic Staff College of BHU.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Development Studies, Varanasi and department of Commerce, DAV PG College are jointly conducting a two-day national seminar on 'Sustained Development in Globalised Era' on Friday at P N Singh Memorial Hall, DAV PG College.