Chennai : Self-financing professional colleges will be committing an offence if they collect a fee higher than the one prescribed by the government. Introducing a bill in the Assembly on Thursday, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy said that no medical or engineering college could collect a fee exceeding the amount fixed by the government-constituted committee.
The bill, to amend section four of the Tamil Nadu Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Collection of Capitation Fee) Act, 1992, would make the collection of a higher fee an offence.
Elaborating on the need for the new bill, he said that the Supreme Court judgment in the Islamic Academy of Education and another vs State of Karnataka and others [(2003) 6 SCC 697)] case had, among other things, directed the State Governments to constitute a committee headed by a retired judge of the High Court, for the fixation of fee for the students admitted into private unaided professional educational institutions.
Another bill, which sought to replace the Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, in order to make the passing of no-confidence motions more stringent by amending the laws relating to the urban local bodies, was tabled by Local Administration Minister M K Stalin.
He had also introduced a bill to suitably amend the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, for the collection of charges for infrastructure and basic amenities from the private developers.
Since development in urban areas was under stress due to the fast-paced growth beyond the defined planning unit of the urban authority, the private developers were playing a key role in the process and were deriving appreciable gains.
A huge capital outlay was required for the installation of infrastructure such as a transport system of international standards, a new source of water supply, sewage and drainage to the trunk system, the creation of an environment- friendly atmosphere at the local and regional level.
Since the concerned local bodies had found it difficult to cater to these needs, the government, after a detailed examination of the facts on the ground, had ordered the collection of infrastructure and amenities charges from developers. The participation of developers to install infrastructure was essential as they too would benefit from it, Stalin said.
The Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies (Appointment of Special Officers) Second Amendment Bill, 2007, which sought to extend the period of appointment of Special Officers of co-operative societies for a period of six months, was passed by a voice-vote.
Introducing the bill, Minister of State for Cooperation Ko Si Mani had promised to hold all the cooperative elections in a democratic manner within six months. While the members of the CPI(M) had opposed the bill, the Congress and PMK functionaries had insisted on regulating the cooperative system and that early elections be conducted in an impartial and democratic manner.
Source : ENS
