Saturday, August 27 2005 14:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (August 27, 2005) put off a meeting of State Education Ministers, in view of the recent Supreme Court ruling on admission in private professional institutions, and said it proposed to bring a comprehensive Central legislation on the issue in the Winter Session of Parliament.

"Most of the States were of the view that deliberations on the matter should take place later as the draft that was circulated during the last Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting has become redundant in view of the recent Supreme Court judgement," Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Arjun Singh told reporters after a brief meeting.

The States have been asked to give their suggestions by September 15, 2005 he said.

Observing that political parties have also decided to constitute a committee in the wake of the Apex Court ruling, he said that attempts will be made to bring a Central Legislation in Parliament during the Winter Session."

Asked about the constitution of the committee, as decided at the all party meeting, Singh said it would be done after the ongoing session of Parliament.

Government had circulated the draft 'Private Professional Educational Institutions Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fees Bill' among States at the CABE meeting held on July 15, 2005.

The State Governments and the CABE members had been asked to convey their views on the issue within a month, so that the Government could bring a Legislation soon enough to put it into effect from the next academic session.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Apex Court ruling on abolishing Government quotas in private unaided colleges, an all-party meeting on August 23, 2005 had decided to set up a political committee to draft Central Legislation on the issue.

The all-party meeting also saw a strong demand for a Constitutional amendment to ensure continuance of quotas for Scheduled Castes and Tribes.