No opportunity to debate ‘drought’: War of words between MLCs
Winter Session
Belagavi, Dec 11: Due to drought situation in majority of the districts in the state, people have been migrating to other places in search of jobs. But when Legislative Council Pro-tem Chairman Basavaraj Horatti rejected the adjournment motion presented by the Opposition BJP seeking time to discuss the issue, there was a war of words between the ruling and opposition party members in the Upper House on Tuesday.
As soon as the Session started on Tuesday morning, Horatti wanted to start question hour. But Kota Srinivas Poojary asked time to discuss the drought issue under Section 68 saying that they have to draw the attention of the government as more than 100 taluks were facing drought situation due to which people and livestock were facing drinking water problem and people have been migrating to other places in search of jobs. Objecting to this, Horatti said that the House should be conducted as per the norms. He would take up the question hour first and later, you will be permitted to discuss the drought issue. So, he would reject the proposal, he said.
Declining to accept it, Kota Srinivas Poojary said that there were instances where the chances were given to discuss such issues before the question hour. Previous Chairman had also given time to discuss the issue. Why you are rejecting the adjournment motion, he asked.
When the BJP members appealed the Chairman to reconsider his decision, JDS members objected it. Once the order is passed from the Chair, it is not good to stall the House proceedings. So, please take up the question hour, they appealed.
“I will give you the time after the question hour. It is not fair to question the decision of the Chair. First learn to respect the Chair”, Horatti said.
Irked by Horatti’s direction, Poojary said that they have not disrespected the Chair. There were instances where such decisions were reconsidered. So, do not curtail the rights of the Opposition leaders. If you stick to your words, they will become helpless, he expressed his helplessness.
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Bill to set up single higher education regulator likely to be tabled in Parliament next week
New Delhi (PTI): A Bill which seeks to set up a single regulator for institutions of higher education is required to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing, officials said.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week after it got the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday.
The proposed legislation, which was earlier christened the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been named Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
A single higher education regulator, which was proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP), looks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
"The Bill proposes to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy. It is likely to be introduced (in Parliament) in the coming week," an official said.
While the UGC presently oversees non-technical higher education in the country, the AICTE oversees technical education, while the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers' education.
The Commission is proposed to be set up as a single higher education regulator, but medical and law colleges will not be brought under its ambit.
It is proposed to have three major roles -- regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards, officials said.
Funding, which is seen as the fourth vertical, is not proposed to be under the regulator so far. The autonomy for funding is proposed to be with the administrative ministry, they said.
