Doctors' Association for Social Equality

22 Nov 2007, 0235 hrs IST,Hemali Chhapia, TNN

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government, which once put off two top educational institutes from setting up campuses in the state by demanding quotas for locals, is now ready to clear a bill that would allow private players to set up universities without reserving any seats, including for backward category students.

Sources in the higher and technical education department said the Self-Financed Universities Bill (Establishment and Regulation) is expected to be tabled before the upper house in the ongoing winter session.

A year ago, it was passed by the assembly, but amid apprehensions in the council about zero reservations it was referred to a joint select committee. The latest draft of the bill, to be presented to the council, maintains the previous stand on no-reservations. The self-financed universities would set their own fees.

This is the same government that in 2002 dissuaded IIM-Ahmedabad from setting up a campus in Mumbai by demanding seats for locals.

There had been extensive parleys and paperwork, and a 25-acre plot had been reserved in Kharghar.
Earlier, when the Shiv Sena was in power, ex-McKinsey head Rajat Gupta wanted to set up the Indian School of Business here. Again, the government asked for 10% of seats for locals and the project went to Hyderabad.