Mah proposes Bill on private varsities

Mumbai, Apr 11 (UNI) A presentation on the proposed Bill for establishing private universities in Maharashtra was made here today, which is likely to come up for discussion during the current Assembly session.

According to the proposed draft, the Government wants to set up the self-financed (private) universities without burdening the State treasury and it has has decided to allow those private educational institutions to set up the varsity, which have implemented higher education courses properly.

However, the draft has also proposed that in order to avoid any controversy in the education of weaker sections of society, the State government will make some regulations for the varsity and reserve some examining rights with itself.

In this respect, a presentation on the proposed Bill was made today by State Associate Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakni, in the presence of Higher and Technical Education Minister Dilip Valse Patil, Legislative Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari and several other members.

Giving tacit support to the draft, Mr Gadkari said, ''Maharashtra needs a university of international standard for higher, technical education and for research and development and with industrial houses ready to invest in this sector, the private universities are likely to get success.'' He also said the Bill will more or less garner support from all quarters in the state political circles.

However, CPI(M) member Narsaiah Adam said they will oppose the bill on the floor of the House.

State PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Congress MLC Sudhakar Gangane and B T Deshmukh (Independent) raised the issue of having provision of reservation for all categories, including the OBC, in private universities.

Mr Bhujbal said the provision of reservations in the proposed draft could be made concrete with some amendments.

BJP MLA Devendra Phadnis said in Karnataka keeping a quota is compulsory for the private varsities and the same could be applied here also.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Suresh Shetty said the draft has proposed that the self-financed universities should make provision of reservation for SC/ST and OBC.

Mr Valse Patil, after hearing all the deliberations, said the issue would be taken up during the group leaders' meeting of various parties and all the issues would be discussed thoroughly. He also said the views expressed by the members, including provision of reservation, would be taken up ''with a positive approach.'' UNI JM GK SS HS2024