T.N. to review Draft Private Universities (Amendment) Bill following pushback

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw and review the Draft Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Assembly on October 18, in response to opposition from teachers’ bodies and a section of MLAs.

“Based on observations made by members in the Assembly, views expressed in social media and public forums, and feedback received from educationists, subject experts, and education department officials, the honourable Chief Minister has asked for appropriate action to be taken,” said a press release quoting Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan.

Pointing out that the government was yet to grant approval to deemed universities that did not follow the State’s reservation policies, a major concern raised by the teachers’ bodies and MLAs, the Minister said the ‘Dravidian Model’ government was deeply committed to social justice in higher education and would guarantee adherence to reservation in appointments and admissions, regulate fees, and protect employee status.

The Bill, Mr. Govi. Chezhiaan said, was brought in to simplify rules for setting up private universities. In the face of rapid urbanisation and gradual uptick in land value, finding large tracts of contiguous land had become a hurdle to starting new universities or converting existing ones. As per the Draft Bill, the land requirement was brought down from 100 acres to 25 acres in municipal corporation areas, 35 acres in town panchayat or municipality areas, and 50 acres in other areas by amending Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019.