The bill to turn the 110-year-old Cotton College into a university was tabled in the Assam Assembly today.
Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the Cotton College State University Bill, 2011 in the Assembly to upgrade the premier educational institute of the region into a state university, with controlling powers resting with the state government.
The bill states that the chief minister will be the chancellor of the university.
The Cotton College, which was established in 1901, has not only been imparting education at the degree and post graduate levels, but has also been running various professional courses.
Sarma said the state government wanted to upgrade the college into a university to enable it to widen its academic scope and the bill had been introduced in accordance with the announcement made by the chief minister.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had declared the upgrade during his 2011-12 budget speech.
According to the bill, the day the act comes into force, the existing Cotton College would become a constituent college of the Cotton College State University.
Upgrade of the college has been a long-standing demand of its alumni and faculty members.
Before arriving at a final decision on elevating the status of the college, Dispur had engaged Educational Consultants India Ltd (EdCIL), a Noida-based consultancy firm under the Union human resource development ministry, to prepare a roadmap for academic and infrastructure upgrade of the college. EdCIL found the college fit to become a world-class university.
The college was initially affiliated to Calcutta University before switching affiliation to Gauhati University.
The bill also stipulates that the chancellor’s decision will be final in certain matters. “Whenever any question arises as to whether any person has been duly elected, appointed, chosen or nominated as, or is entitled to be a member of any authority or body of the university or whether any decision of any of the authorities or of vice-chancellor of the university is in conformity with this act, the statues and the ordinances, the question shall be referred to the chancellor whose decision will be final,” it states.
According to the bill, if the state government is of the opinion that the affairs of the university are not managed in furtherance of the objects for which any grant or donation is made by the government, public bodies or individuals and university funds are misappropriated or misapplied, the state government can call for an explanation from the executive council.
Besides, if, at any time, it appears to be necessary and expedient in the opinion of the state government, it may, with prior consultation with the chancellor, suspend all or any of the powers of the university and take over all, or any, of the powers of the management and functions of such authorities or officers.
“If any dispute arises as to the interpretation of any of the provisions of this act, the interpretation given by the state government shall be final and binding on all concerned,” it states.
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