The state government is likely to change the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions Act of 2006 to make it more ‘student-friendly’.
While Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande and Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil are pushing for the Act in its present form, Rural Development Minister H K Patil, Law Minister T B Jayachandra and Public Works Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa feel a review is called for, highly placed sources told Express.
Patil, Jayachandra and Mahadevappa reportedly said the government was not obliged to implement a law passed by a JD(S)-BJP coalition government.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who presided over a meeting on Friday to discuss the problem, reportedly liked the idea of amending the law, but after “wide consultations”.
“Let us convene a meeting of leaders of all opposition parties and representatives of students organisations,” Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told the meeting.
Senior officials in the higher education ministry reportedly told the meeting that certain aspects in the 2006 Act were ambiguous and needed a review.
H K Patil reportedly said he, in his capacity as Leader in the Legislative Council, had suggested nine amendments before it was passed in the Upper House. However, then Higher Education Minister D H Shankarmurthy had reportedly said the amendments were not feasible, a source said.
After hearing Patil, Jayachandra and Mahadevappa, Siddaramaiah said, “We will have a discussion on amending the 2006 Act after taking into consideration the amendments suggested by H K Patil. The heavens won’t fall if we don’t implement the Act now.”
He said the government would have to find a solution that is student-friendly, and at the same time, keep private managements in good humour.
Siddaramaiah was disturbed over the state-wide student protests and the allegation that the government had given in to pressure from the private managements.
Siddaramaiah promised to hold meetings with representatives of private colleges to explain the government’s stand.
Some ministers expressed their anxiety that the CET will become redundant if the Act in its present form was implemented, and hit meritorious and poor students hard.