Professional Education Bill passed

The Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Bill, 2006, providing 50 per cent reservation to SCs oSTs and other backward classes students in government-aided and unaided professional educational colleges was passed in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

Higher education minister D H Shankaramurthy, who piloted the bill, said that there will be three all-India common entrance tests (CET).

The CET conducted by state for admission to its colleges; second CET conducted by private-aided and unaided educational institutions and the third conducted by minorities colleges.

In government colleges, state reservation policy will be applied in filling up seats. In private aided and unaided colleges, 50 per cent of the seats will be for the reservation category, 35 per cent for general category and 15 per cent for NRIs.

In minorities colleges, 66 per cent of the seats will be reserved for minority students from within the state; 15 per cent for NRIs and the remaining for general category, the minister explained.

All institutions have to work under the purview of two committees, each headed by a retired High Court judge. The two committees "" Admission Overseeing Panel and Fee Regulatory Panel "" will be formed in accordance with the bill. Any college violating the fee structure prescribed will be fined Rs 10 lakh, the minister added.

The provisions of the bill will be applicable to admissions to courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, naturopathy and yoga, BE, BTech and architecture, Shankaramurthy said.