TN adopts Bills for setting up Shiv Nadar, Sai varsities

The Tamil Nadu Assembly today adopted seven Bills including those for the establishment of two private universities and one for facilitating establishment of private law colleges in the State.

The Shiv Nadar University Bill, 2018 and Sai University Bill, 2018 both envisaging unitary type varsities were adopted amid opposition from the DMK.

The Shiv Nadar Act was adopted following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the state government with HCL Corporation during the Global Investors Meet held here in 2015 to facilitate establishment of a private university.

Similarly, the Sai University Act was adopted following a proposal by the promoters to provide higher education in Tamil Nadu.

Opposing the move, DMK MLA K Ponmudi, a former Higher Education Minister, said his party's opposition was based on its policy, since there will be no government control on such private institutions and wanted it to be referred to a select committee.

The Bills were, however, adopted through a voice vote.

Opposing the Tamil Nadu Establishment of Private Law Colleges (Regulation) Bill, 2018 DMK member Mathivanan asked whether the private sector can give quality law education at low cost to poorer sections of the society.

Law Minister C Ve Shangmugam, who piloted the Bill said the government was not promoting private law colleges but coming out with the initiative following a court directive.

"In view of the orders of the High Court (2016) in a writ petition that there cannot be a total prohibition to start law colleges by private persons, the government decided to regulate the establishment of private law colleges instead of totally prohibiting them," the Bill said outlining the object.

On the TN Private Schools (Regulation) Bill, 2018 a comprehensive legislation to regulate private schools, DMK member and former Minister Thangam Thennarasu spoke.

He said in the post NEET era there was a danger of schools switching over from teaching and learning mode to mere coaching to enable students to face competitive exams.

The school Bill was adopted following an expert committee coming up with a draft legislation which considered all Acts, rules, codes and government orders in this regard.

Salient features of the Bill include emphasis on safety and security of children, ensuring quality and prevention of commercialisation of education.

TN Vanniyakula Kshatriya Public Charitable Trusts and Endowments (Protection and Maintenance) Bill, 2018 envisaging a Board to safeguard the properties of trusts and endowments created by the Kshatriya community was adopted.

TN Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Bill 2018, to increase the ceiling area for industrial or commercial undertakings from 15 acres to 30 was also passed.

Another Bill, TN Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase Price) Bill, 2018 to regulate the price of sugarcane purchased by the sugar factories from farmers in Tamil Nadu was also adopted.