Council passes PR, private university Bills

The Legislative Council on Thursday debated and passed Bills, including Private Universities Bill-2018 and constitution of Gram Panchayats Bill. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act was also amended in the Council.

The bills were passed in the House of Elders a day after they were passed in Legislative Assembly.

Responding to questions, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K. Taraka Rama Rao said Gram Panchayat meetings or gram sabhas under the new Bill will improve civic participation among people. The Bill will also see devolution of funds to both panchayat (₹1500 crore) and municipalities (₹1,000 crore). Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Jupally Krishna Rao said if a panchayat sarpanch misused his or her power, “while using resources or handling funds, the State government can dissolve the whole Panchayat”. The Bill provides teeth to the otherwise defunct gram panchayat, the Minister said.

In the forenoon, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari replied to questions on Private Universities Bill ensuring implementation of State’s rule of reservations in these institutions. “Existing seats which are reserved for SC, ST and BC students will not be lost because the same rules of reservation will be implemented in private universities as well. Private Universities Bill in Telangana is different from that of other states because the Bill does not mandate the government to offer incentives to private entities. The bill ensures to bring education with global standards to students in Telangana,” Mr. Srihari said. Fee reimbursement scheme will, however, not be applicable to SC, ST students in private universities.