Panel to vet Himachal bill on private universities
By IANSMonday, August 23, 2010
SHIMLA - A bill to regulate private universities in Himachal Pradesh was Monday referred to a select committee by the state assembly.
Opposition Congress legislators Kaul Singh Thakur, G.S. Bali and Sukwinder Singh Sukhu expressed apprehensions about the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions (Regulatory Commission) Bill to effectively check the mushrooming of poor standard private universities in the state.
“The decision of the government to introduce the bill to regulate private educational institutions was a welcome step, but from the bill draft it seemed that the government was in haste to introduce it. There are several loopholes in the bill that need to be addressed properly,” Thakur said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Suresh Bhardwaj said the bill was an effective step and first of its kinds in the country.
He demanded that the proposed regulatory commission should also have the powers to regulate functioning of private schools in the state.
Intervening in the debate, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said: “We don’t have any problem if the bill goes to the select committee. The government thinks the committee should invite suggestions from intellectuals… we want the bill to be good example for other states to follow and adopt.”
The bill introduced in the assembly Aug 19 provides for establishing a commission vested with powers to monitor and regulate fee structure of private universities and ensure that admissions are based on merit and national or state-level common entrance tests.
The commission shall enforce rules, regulations and guidelines issued by various regulatory bodies and the government. It would be empowered to even recommend closure of an institution in case it fails to meet the standards.
In case of contravention of any rule, regulation and non-implementation of its directions, the commission will have the power to impose a penalty not exceeding Rs.1 crore for the first offence and up to Rs.5 crore for subsequent offences.
