T.N. Assembly passes Private Universities Amendment Bill

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill allowing for conversion of existing private or government-aided colleges to a new entity called ‘Brownfield Universities’ by altering the minimum requirement for contiguous land to establish such facility. The principal opposition AIADMK and some of the ruling DMK’s allies opposed the Bill.

While Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019 necessitates a minimum of 100 acres of contiguous land to establish private universities in the State, the amendment has slashed the minimum requirement for Brown field Universities to 25 acres in municipal corporation areas, 35 acres in municipal council or town panchayat areas, and 50 acres in other areas.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Amendment Act, educational institutions operating in municipal corporation areas or municipal council and town panchayat areas found it tough to identify large expanse of contiguous land. “If the requirement of land is reduced in line with the Acts of private universities of other neighbouring States, requests of eligible and deserving educational institutions may be considered,” the statement read.

A new clause was also inserted earmarking 65 per cent of seats in Medical, Dental, Allied Health, and Indian Medicine courses at all non-minority private universities as government seats, while for minority private universities, half of the seats would be allotted to the government.

Section 37 of the original Act, which dealt with service conditions of employees, was also amended to include a clause that stated that those employed in government sanctioned posts in aided institutions “shall not be in any way less favourable than those which would have been applicable to them if there had been no such conversion”.

Another clause inserted into Section 55 stated that students admitted to a private college before conversion to Brownfield University would be provided with arrangements for instruction, teaching, and training and appearing for examinations and their degrees would be conferred upon by the affiliate university.

In his reply to the debate on the floor of the House, Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan claimed the government was keen on protecting the aided colleges for benefit of students. He added if the aided colleges converted to private universities, they would lose the aided status and would stop receiving government grant. Explaining the amendments, he claimed these steps opened up possibilities to take higher education in the State to the next level.

AIADMK MLA and former Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan, CPI (M) MLA Nagaimaali, CPI MLA T. Ramachandran, Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi MLA T. Velmurugan opposed the bill. CPI (M), CPI and Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi and VCK MLA Sinthanai Selvan said the bill could affect reservations and urged the Minister to ensure poor and disadvantaged students are not affected.

TNCC president and MLA, K. Selvaperunthagai supported the bill and said Karnataka Government had already done what the Tamil Nadu Government was doing now.