The Kerala cabinet-led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has approved a draft bill to regulate private universities in the state. The government will introduce the bill in the ongoing Assembly session.
The bill outlines eligibility criteria for sponsoring agencies, requiring them to have a credible track record in the education sector. Applicants must meet minimum land requirements set by regulatory authorities and deposit a Rs 25 crore corpus fund in the state treasury. Multi-campus universities must establish their headquarters on at least 10 acres of land.
Appointments to key administrative positions, including the Vice-Chancellor and faculty, must comply with guidelines set by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the State government, according to the draft bill.
RESERVATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Each course must reserve 40 per cent of seats for students who are permanent residents of Kerala. The existing reservation system will apply across institutions, according to the bill. Fee concessions and scholarships for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students will be maintained.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply, an institution must submit a detailed project report with information on land and financial resources, the bill stated. An expert committee will review the application. The committee will include a government-nominated academician as chairperson, a vice chancellor, the higher education secretary, a nominee from the Kerala State Education Council, a nominee from the Planning Board, and the district collector.
The committee will submit its decision within two months, and the government will inform the applicant of its decision.
AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING UNIVERSITY LAWS
The cabinet has also approved amendments to existing university laws. The changes will remove a provision allowing universities to establish study centres outside Kerala and abroad. A special provision will ensure continuity in university governance structures by allowing existing syndicates and senates to continue until their reconstitution or the end of their current term.
The approved memorandum will be sent to the Law Department for further action.
