CPI opposes the private-university amendment and asks the government to withdraw it
State secretary M. Veerapandian says easier land and endowment rules would commercialise higher education and hurt students who depend on reservation.
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Chennai: The Communist Party of India has opposed the amendment passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that relaxes land and deposit rules for starting private universities.
In a statement, state secretary M. Veerapandian called the change a step toward privatising higher education.
He said the minimum land requirement has been reduced: 12 acres in the Chennai metropolitan area, 18 acres in other corporations and municipalities, and 25 acres elsewhere. The permanent endowment required to start a private university has also been lowered. He said that would open the door to more domestic and foreign private universities.
Veerapandian said reservation is not properly followed in private universities, so the move could hurt students who are socially and economically behind. He asked the government to give priority to opening enough public colleges and universities.
The CPI warned that encouraging private and foreign universities would turn higher education into a business and leave poorer students behind. It has asked the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the bill.