Governor gives assent to Kerala Professional College Bill

Thiruvananthapuram, July 2 (UNI) Kerala Governor R L Bhatia today gave his assent to the Kerala Professional Colleges and Institutions (prohibition of capitation fee, regulation of admission, fixation of non-exploitative fee and other measures to ensure equity and excellence in professional education) Bill-2006.

The Bill has come into force with the Governor putting his signature.

The State Assembly had passed the Bill that seeks to regulate admissions and fee structure and minority status of the self- financing professional colleges in the State on June 30.

The legislation envisages 50 per cent of seats in self-financing institutions for various reserved categories, including Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Backward Classes, economically weaker among forward communities and the physically challenged.

Of the remaining 50 per cent seats, the managements would get 15 per cent as privilege seats and 15 per cent as NRI seats. The general merit seats had been pegged at 18 per cent and two per cent for students with excellent record in arts and sports.

The Bill also lays down norms to determine the minority status of institutions.

Meanwhile, State Education Minister M A Baby told a TV channel that the Centre would be requested to include the Bill in the Nineth Schedule of the Constitution and not to challenge it in Courts.

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