By: ML Verma
Dharamsala (Dec 9): Himachal Pradesh state Assembly gave its nod to Private Education Institutions (Regularity Commission) Bill, accepting the draft finalized by the select committee panel, with voice vote here today.
While presenting the Bill for discussion on the final day of the four-day winter session, state education minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman said that it would be first such Bill in the country aimed at keeping a check on the working of private institutions coming up in large numbers in the state. He said that on the request of opposition members it was handed over for discussion to a select committee represented by members of both sides of the House during the last monsoon session on August 23.
Earlier, speaking over the Bill, Kaul Singh Thakur (Darang-Cong.) demanded to increase the five-year cap period on members of Regulatory Commission to join next assignment after remaining in the Commission. He also gave contention that one member of UGC should be included in the Commission to keep it updated with latest UGC norms.
Rejecting the demand of Thakur, the minister said that the Bill has already gone through the SCP, which also took care of objections raised by opposition members. Intervening in the debate, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the Bill would show way to rest of the country in maintaining quality and standard of education in private institutions.
