Bangalore: The Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Special Provisions Bill, 2006 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday by Minister for Higher Education D.H. Shankaramurthy. A detailed discussion on the Bill is expected to follow in a day or two.

The tabling of the Bill was opposed by several members who alleged that the aim was to give legal cover to the understanding between the Government and the managements of private professional colleges.

Mr. Shankaramurthy said the Bill provided for recognition of the agreement entered into between the Government and private unaided professional educational institutions as provided for in a 2005 Supreme Court judgment (P.A. Inamdar and others vs. State of Maharashtra). The Government had entered into the agreement with the private managements to safeguard the interests of students domiciled in the States and students from socially and educationally backward classes.

The Bill provides for admission through the Common Entrance Test Cell set up by the Government in accordance with the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions Rules of 2006. In respect of engineering colleges, the CET Cell will admit students to 60 per cent of seats in non-minority institutions and 50 per cent in minority institutions. In the case of medical and dental courses, the CET Cell will select 50 per cent of students in non-minority institutions and 40 per cent in minority institutions.

In respect of fees, the Bill says the Government may, in accordance with the agreement, fix the fees payable for admission to unaided private professional colleges. However, it provides for fixing different rates of fees for different categories of students and institutions.

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