Maharashtra's private universities bill may not be introduced in winter session

Private players or self-financing institutes keen on setting up universities in the state will have to wait longer. The private universities bill is not likely to be passed, let alone be introduced in the winter session of the house.

Officials in the state’s higher education department said that owing to a lot of opposition to the Self-Financed Universities Bill (Establishment and Regulation), the department may have to issue an ordinance to make it a reality. The draft of the bill is ready.

“The bill has been lying in cold storage for some years now. It may not be introduced in the winter session in its current form. A lot of amendments have been suggested by various parties who have their own vested interests. If we can’t introduce it in the winter session, we intend to issue an ordinance,” said a senior official.

The official said that the draft bill on private universities does not mandate adherence to social or caste reservations by such institutes. This criterion has become a bone of contention for many parties who engage in vote-bank politics. Currently, universities in Maharashtra have to set aside 50% of the seats for various reserved categories.

“Corporate houses/private entities will not accept reservations if you force them to set aside 50% of the seats. We are trying to resolve this issue,” said the official.
But to ensure that education in private universities is not denied to students who are financially backward and/or physically challenged, the proposed bill may ask for seats to be reserved for them.
Another official said that while the bill was cleared in the Vidhan Parishad, it could not be cleared by the Vidhan Sabha and subsequently was referred to a joint committee. “We hope to at least start discussions on it in the winter session,” said the official.
Several years back, Maharashtra had proposed a similar legislation to allow entry of private universities sans reservations. Over 35 applications had come from private parties and industries, but the project had to be shelved as there was no consensus. “Many private players are once again willing to start their own universities in Maharashtra but want regulations to be relaxed,” said a source.
The Reliance Foundation, the new philanthropic initiative of the Reliance Group, had announced earlier this year that it wants to establish a world-class and multi-disciplinary university. The university may start either in Mumbai or Delhi.