Maharashtra govt withdraws self-financed universities' Bill

State govt withdrew earlier bill in this regard instead a proposal received by a developer to be converted into bill

The state government on Wednesday withdrew the Maharashtra Self Financed Universities (Establishment & Regulation) Bill, 2011, passed by both the houses of legislature in August 2011. Instead of one uniform law, the government proposes to convert the proposal received for self-financed universities by a developer into a Bill and seek the approval of legislature.

“The Maharashtra Self Financed Universities (Establishment & Regulation) Bill, 2011, stands withdrawn today. The state cabinet can take up a proposal received by any developer based on the guidelines issued by our department and subsequently move it for legislative approval,” Rajesh Tope, state minister for higher & technical education, told Business Standard.

However, it will be binding on the developer of a self-financed university to keep 50 per cent reservation for women, the poor, low income groups and those domiciled in Maharashtra. The demand in this regard, was made by all political parties and non-government organisations.

“As per the guidelines, the developer will have to ensure 50 per cent reservation, which was missing in the earlier Bill,” said Tope.

Moreover, the land requirement for self-financed universities has been reduced to 10 acres from 4 hectares proposed in the earlier Bill in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, 15 acres from 10 hectares in devisal headquarters, 25 acres from 20 hectares in ‘tehsil’ or district headquarters and 50 acres from 20 hectares in rural areas, Tope said. He hoped that with the government’s move, interested parties will be able to pursue their plans expeditiously.

Already, a couple of private sector enterprises, including Reliance Industries, have evinced an interest in setting up self-financed universities in the state.

The minister indicated that the establishment of self-financed universities will help create and deploy new educational programmes and promote creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship for inventing new ways for development and social reconstruction and transformation. Furthermore, it will also create centres of excellence for research and development in science and technology and socio-economic development and for sharing knowledge and its application.