Lifts ban on them from coming academic year on mounting pressure from managements
Maharashtra has opened the doors again to new higher education institutions. Six months ago, the government had imposed a blanket ban on them, citing “a huge number of vacant seats” in existing colleges and “falling standard of education”. But the government recently promulgated an ordinance to amend the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, recently, allowing state universities to accept proposals till December 31 for setting up new colleges in 2016-17. Sources say the government’s change of heart amounts to bowing to the pressure of college managements.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> Universities can approve proposals till the end of this year even in the absence of a perspective plan, extending the October 31 deadline as mandated under the Act. Earlier, the government has directed universities to hold up their perspective plans till broader guidelines are issued on the basis of a brand new “comprehensive higher education policy” for the entire state as per the suggestions of the Narendra Jadhav commitee. The comprehensive plan for the state is not yet ready though the Jadhav committee has submitted its report to the government a month ago. dna had reported about the recommendations of the committee. The government holds the final say in approving new educational institutions in the state, approved by govt-run universities. The ban on new institutions has sparked off an uproar among aspiring college managements, with some of them even seeking legal remedies. The ban also invited criticism from academicians and other stakeholders who called it arbitrary. Even minister of state for higher and technical education- Ravindra Waikar, a Shiv Sena leader, was unhappy with the ban decision. Last year, Mumbai university alone received around 70 applications for new colleges. However, the government issued a resolution in April 2015 stating that no new permissions will be granted for 2015-16.
Original article –
Maharashtra govt does a U-turn; opens door for proposals on new colleges
