2 private university Bills passed amid opposition

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,however,rejected the charges and reminded the Opposition that it was the previous Congress government that had passed the Model Act,opening the state’s doors for the private sector to open institutions of higher education. Six private universities were given letters of intent by the Congress government.

Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman moved the Bill to replace an Ordinance already promulgated by the governor for establishing Bahara University in Solan district and Sai University at Palampur. This was followed by the introduction of nine other Bills by the minister to amend the existing Acts to withdraw the powers conferred on these universities to set-up off-campus study centres.

PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur questioned the necessity to promulgate an Ordinance for private universities,particularly when a select committee of the House was already studying an earlier Bill to set up a regulatory body to oversee the functioning of private universities and also look into the complaints regarding fee structure and other facilities. He also raised objections to transfer of a prime chunk of land to Bahara University on the Shimla-Kalka National Highway,where promoters have allegedly violated norms to raise multi-storey buildings.

Thakur was joined by Kuldeep Pathania whom the party has positioned to contest some of the provisions in the Bills,seeking reservation of 50 seats for local students. He also sought to know the qualifications of those occupying the posts of vice-chancellor of the universities — an issue later countered by Dhumal,quoting UGC guidelines.

Intervening in the debate,Dhumal asserted that interests of the state were fully protected while allowing the universities.

Though the Congress refused to budge from its stand,the Bills were passed with a majority vote.

Dhumal hints at Cabinet expansion

An expansion of the Himachal Cabinet is on the cards after the panchayat polls slated to be held in the last week of December. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,who is here in connection with Winter Session of the Assembly,said: “This (expansion of the Cabinet) is long overdue. It will be happening soon to fill up the vacancy. There are chances of a few parliamentary secretaries being appointed too.” He said he would like to see the performance of the MLAs and decide who should get the berth. The vacancy was created by former forest minister J P Nadda who resigned from the post after being appointed the national general secretary of BJP in May.