The Hindu : Front Page : Jayalalithaa blames Centre for delaying law on admissions

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Thursday, Sep 29, 2005

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Jayalalithaa blames Centre for delaying law on admissions

Special Correspondent

Education Minister criticises AICTE for not consulting State before taking decisions

CHENNAI: The Centre is delaying enactment of a law on admission to self-financing professional colleges, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Intervening in a discussion, she said a draft legislation was circulated among the States and the Tamil Nadu Government gave its views on the subject.

The Supreme Court, in its August 12 order, had called upon the Centre to come out with a comprehensive legislation on the subject.

Education Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam said that the Centre earlier announced that it would promulgate an ordinance by September 15. But, till now the ordinance was not issued.

Also, Tamil Nadu was not included on a sub-committee constituted for the purpose. The State Government had written to the Centre for including it on the panel.

Not legally valid

Responding to the Pattali Makkal Katchi president G.K. Mani's poser to the State Government on bringing in a law on the common entrance test system for admission to professional courses, the Chief Minister said as per a Madras High Court's judgment (that struck down the State Government's order of abolishing the CET), even if the State Government made any law, it would not be legally valid unless regulations of the Central agencies (All-India Council for Technical Education and the Medical Council of India) were amended.

The State Government wrote to the Union Human Resource Development and Health Ministries on the issue.

As the Union Health Minister R. Anbumani belonged to the PMK, Mr. Mani could approach him in this regard, suggested Ms. Jayalalithaa.

Referring to Mr. Mani's observation that several colleges collected "exorbitant fees", Mr. Shanmugam said the Government would take strong action if it received complaints.

On the issue of a large number of seats in engineering colleges lying vacant, Mr. Shanmugam criticised the AICTE for not consulting the State Government before sanctioning additional seats in existing colleges or on establishment of new colleges.

The problem was compounded by when it had reduced the student intake from some colleges a few months ago and later restored them. Besides, the AICTE sanctioned additional seats.

Mr. Mani said the Centre would come out with legislation in the next session of Parliament.

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