Overview
- The Assembly approved an amendment creating a Brownfield category that permits conversion of existing private and government‑aided colleges into private universities.
- Minimum contiguous land requirements drop to 25 acres in municipal corporation areas, 35 acres in municipal council or town panchayat areas, and 50 acres in other areas.
- A new clause designates 65% of seats in Medical, Dental, Allied Health, and Indian Medicine courses at non‑minority private universities as government seats, with 50% at minority institutions.
- Section 37 now states that employees in government‑sanctioned posts at aided institutions must retain service conditions no less favorable than before conversion, and Section 55 protects current students’ instruction and degrees through the affiliate university.
- Teacher unions and parties including JAC, CPI, AMMK, and MUTA have urged withdrawal, warning of privatisation, higher fees, weakened reservations, and staff insecurity, while the Higher Education Minister defended the changes as expanding access.