Maharashtra issues resolution on private varsities

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday issued a resolution for the establishment of private universities (self-financed universities). "A promoter will have to submit a proposal to the state government. The proposal will be examined by a scrutiny committee comprising senior bureaucrats. There is no bar on investment. However, the proposal will be scrutinised, especially to see to it that the promoter is not setting up the university for routine courses but rather is keen to provide innovative sources focusing on research and development," minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope told Business Standard. After the proposal is cleared, the government will issue a letter of intent. Once the promoter receives the letter of intent, he will have to give a detailed proposal to the government, which will be treated as a bill to set up a private university.

According to the minister, after the promoter receives the letter of intent, s/he will have to submit a detailed proposal to the government which will be treated as a bill to set up a private university. "This will be cleared by the state cabinet and will subsequently be tabled in the state legislature for its clearance. After the due legislative clearance, the promoter will be able to kick start the work towards the establishment of the private university," Tope said.

"Although the proposed self-financed or private universities would be provided functional autonomy, it would be binding on them to strictly adhere to the stipulated norms and rules of the respective apex bodies for running courses," Tope said. Besides, the government enjoys powers to call the records of these universities and initiate punitive action in the case of non-compliance.

As far as the fulfillment of condition of reserving seats for certain sections was concerned, Tope said the proposed self-financed or private universities would have to keep 50 per cent reservation for women, low income groups and those domiciled in Maharashtra.

The land requirement for self-financed universities has been reduced to 10 acres from 4 hectares proposed in the earlier Maharashtra Self Financed Universities (Establishment & Regulation) Bill, 2011 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, the minister informed.

So far, companies such as Reliance and Bharat Forge have evinced interest and have held a series of meetings with the government. Besides, the D Y Patil group, engaged in educational activities, and Ajinkya University have also held preliminary discussions with the state government on their proposed venture.

In April this year, the state government withdrew the Maharashtra Self Financed Universities Bill, 2011, passed by both the houses of legislature in August 2011.