Maha Govt plans to take back universities Bill

The state is planning to take back the much-criticised Maharashtra Public Universities Bill 2015, which was tabled on the last day of the Assembly’s winter session. The three-month-old bill that never came up for discussion in any of the Houses is expected to be replaced with a ‘stronger’ version.

The amended Bill is expected to be placed before the Cabinet this week for approval. “After the Cabinet’s approval, the amended version will replace the previous Bill,” a highly-placed source in the higher education department told dna.

The department’s officials are burning the midnight oil to give finishing touches to the amendment. While officials refused to divulge details of the inclusions and deletions in the new version citing confidentiality, dna has learnt that periodical tests for on-job professors, lesser power to vice-chancellors and a stronger senate could be included in the amended version. There was a lot of criticism earlier by experts and political parties over the provisions, which allegedly give extraordinary power to VCs and make the senate powerless.

Besides, the definition of autonomous institutions and sub-campuses may be revised to allow more institutions to be brought under the purview of sub-campuses and autonomy.

When asked about the rationale behind the changes, the officials said it was being done based on the ‘positive’ suggestions of leaders of all political parties so as to remove a possible deadlock over its passage. Nevertheless, the whole exercise may further delay the passage of the crucial Bill, which seeks to bring all 16 public universities in the state under its ambit.

“Since it is an important Bill discussion, its passage would take time. Considering it’s the budget session, when a majority of the time is dedicated for related debates, the passage of the universities Bill seems difficult,” said an official.

Source | Daily News Analysis | 16 March 2016

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Librarian

Khaitan & Co

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