Higher education bill withdrawn

The government has decided to withdraw the controversial Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Wednesday.

"There was a bill much in controversy, the higher education research bill 2011. A parliamentary standing committee also had objection on the bill," Prasad said, briefing reporters after a meeting of the union cabinet.

"Many states felt it was also against federal character of the country. This seven-member tribunal was aimed at running education institutions throughout the country," he said, adding the bill "stands withdrawn by the cabinet."

The bill sought to establish a National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER), a General Council and a Collegium of Scholars.

It also repealed the UGC Act, 1956, the AICTE Act, 1987, and the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993.

The bill was one of the series of legislations drafted by the former United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on education reforms, which could not see the light of day.

While most of the bills lapsed after the 15th Lok Sabha's tenure ended, those bills which were introduced in the Rajya Sabha remained alive.