Govt.irked over awarding minority status to institions

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 22 (UNI) The Kerala Government today urged the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions to repeal the recently accorded minority status to six self-financing professional colleges in the state.

Education Minister M A Baby told the state assembly that the Commission took the decision in a ''hasty manner'' without considering the request of the state which sought more time for framing the guidelines in this regard.

The state Government was in the process of framing a legislation on the admission and fees in self-financing professional colleges.

However, the minority institutions would not come under the purview of the proposed law, thus resulting in various problems in the sector.

The Minister was winding up the discussions on a motion seeking to refer to the Subject Committee concerned the 'Kerala Professional Colleges (Prohibition of Capitation Fee, Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Non-exploitative fees and other measures to ensure equity and excellence in professional education) Bill, 2006. Later, the Bill was referred to the Subject Committee.

He pointed out that when the members of the commission visited the state, they were informed in writing that the government was in the process of framing the definition of a minority institution.

However, the commission went ahead with the decision without considering the request of the state. ''Now, the decision can be repealed as there are provisions in the Act to reconsider its own decisions,'' he added.

UNI CR VV VD RS1929