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Five Bills on private varsities passed

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Assembly has passed five Bills facilitating establishment of an equal number of private universities in the State. The treasury benches overruled the apprehensions of the Opposition and said private participation was welcome as the State needed at least 50 universities to fulfil its educational needs.

The Government also rejected a resolution moved by the deputy chief whip of the Congress, Ramnarain Meena, suggesting that the Bills be circulated for public opinion before their passage. However, Education Minister Kali Charan Saraf, who piloted the Bills, said the Government had taken precautions to safeguard the educational standards.

The Bills passed to facilitate the establishment of private universities—some of which are in existence already—are: Jaipur National University, Jaipur Bill, 2008; NIMS Rajasthan University, Jaipur Bill, 2008; Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur Bill, 2008: Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur Bill, 2008; and Singhania University Pacheri Badi (Jhunjhunu) Bill, 2008.

The Bills were passed after a debate in which B.D. Kalla, Harimohan Sharma, Zuber Khan and Sanyam Lodha of the Congress, Amra Ram of the CPI (M) and Rao Rajendra Singh of the BJP participated.

Harimohan Sharma said the Bills were brought in a hurry and contained many drawbacks. As such the Government should have waited for the Assembly session to start instead of promulgating ordinances for the commencements of the private institutions three months back, he noted, referring to the existence of the institutions already.

He expressed the fear that the private players would bring down the standard of education in the State.

Mr. Kalla suggested keeping a provision for the Governor to be the Chancellor of the private universities as is the case with the State-run varsities.

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