K'taka Legislature passes CET Bill amid walkout by Congress

Bangalore, June 30 (UNI) A new Common Entrance Test Bill to give legal sanction to the consensual agreement between the private management and the Karnataka Government was passed in both the Houses of the Legislature today amidst a walkout by the Opposition Congress against the ''pro-management and anti-people'' Bill.

When Speaker Krishna put to vote the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) (Special Provision) Bill, 2006, after a discussion, the Congress members led by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh staged a walkout, demanding some more time for debate.

The Bill, tabled by Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy, yesterday amidst protests from the Congress, was taken up for passage today after a debate in which several members took part.

Leading his party members out of the House, Mr Singh said the rights of the Opposition party members were curtailed by not giving them more time to debate the controversial Bill.

When the House reassembled after lunch, the entire opposition, led by the Congress, boycotted the session against the government's ''adamant'' stand with regard to passing the Bill.

Moving the Bill in the Council, Mr Shankaramurthy said it was being brought in to protect the interests of the students of the state and to enable those belonging to educationally and socially backward classes to get admissions into professional colleges.

He said the state government had managed to secure more number of seats in dental, medical and engineering courses from the private managements compared to the previous year.

Participating in the discussion, BJP and JD(S) members appreciated the government for obtaining more number of seats under the concessional fee category and said it would immensely benefit the SC/ST and OBC students.

Criticising the Bill, Congress members, including B K Chandra Shekhar, V S Ugrappa, L Hanumanthaiah and Umashree, said it was being brought in hurry to protect the interests of the management of private professional colleges and demanded its immediate withdrawal. JD(U) members Basavaraj Bommai and Dr M P Nada Gouda, independent member Arun Machaiah, also expressed strong reservation over the Bill.

Officiating Chairman Sachidanand Khot put the Bill to vote, amidst walkout by the Congress members and it was passed on voice vote. He then adjourned the House to July three.

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