Bangalore: Following pressure from various quarters, the state government on Friday decided to keep in abeyance the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006 which was to come into effect from the academic year 2014-15.
After an hour-long meeting with senior cabinet colleagues, including the ministers of Higher Education and Medical Education, on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah anÂnounced that the government will not implement the controversial Act.
The decision of the state government will be welcomed by merit quota students who may not have been able to afford the professional courses if the new Act had been implemented. The fast approaching Lok Sabha election seems to be the main reason for the state government to put aside the 2006 Act, which was unpopular in some quarters.
The Government has decided to go in for wider consultation on the 2006 Act. “To protect the interests of students we will explore the possibilities of bringing necessary amendment to the Act. Before implementing the Act, it is necessary to discuss with educationalists, students and other stake holders,” Siddaramaiah said.
The Chief Minister was however non-committal about the fate of the existing fee fixation committee and admission monitoring committee. The Chief Minister asserted that the old procedure of entering into a consensual agreement will continue after discussing this with private educational institutions.
The Chief Minister did not forget to blame the then BJP-JD(S) coalition government for bringing in the 2006 Act. “Then BJP-JD(S) government had brought this Act. We were under the impression that the Act would help the interest of students,” Siddaramaiah said.
“For the academic year 2013-14, we have decided to continue with the old system of entering into a consensual agreement with private professional colleges. But we have promised private college managements that the 2006 Act will be implemented for the academic year 2014-15 and government has also informed the House,” the Chief Minister said.
Though the government’s intention in introducing the Act was to bring transparency to the admissions process in professional courses, the BJP and JD(S) had opposed the legislation. The Chief Minster said the apprehensions of students is uncalled for because the government has not taken a decision about the fee structure and seat sharing, with a committee yet to look into these matters.
