Private universities bill passed without opposition; Govt assures proper regulations and intervention

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Legislative Assembly passed the bill yesterday to allow the establishment of private universities in the state. Although the opposition had objections to some conditions, it did not oppose the bill. Only KK Rama raised the demand for the withdrawal of the bill.

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu assured that private universities will not be let loose and there will be proper control. There will be proper intervention from the government in matters including reservation. The state government also has the power to withdraw permission. The House approved the bill by voice vote.

The government has removed the provision that private universities can start with more than one campus, which is a gain for the opposition. The UGC stipulates that a university cannot start more than one campus at the same time. An off-campus or offshore campus can be started after five years. After realising the violation of the rules raised by the opposition, the government corrected the mistake through an official amendment.

UDF says it is Oommen Chandy government's plan

10 years ago, the Oommen Chandy government had organised a Higher Education Council meeting in Kovalam to explore the possibility of a private university. At that time, the CPM used the SFI to create chaos and slapped the Chairman of the Higher Education Council, Dr T.P. Srinivasan. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan clarified that the opposition has no objection to the bill in principle because they are bringing something that they were going to bring 10 years ago. Minister Bindu said that the situation today is not the same as when the UDF government decided to bring this bill ten years ago.