Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 23: A high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary, which was constituted to look into various issues vis-à-vis granting permission for opening of new BEd colleges in the State, has unanimously recommended that moratorium should continue to remain in force. However, the Minister for Higher Education, Mohd Akbar Lone has sought permission in certain cases on compassionate grounds.
The recommendation of the high-level committee and Minister’s formal communication would be placed before the State Cabinet, which is meeting tomorrow at 3.30 pm, for appraisal and necessary orders.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary and comprising Secretaries of General Administration and Higher Education Departments and Vice-Chancellors of University of Kashmir and University of Jammu, which was constituted as per the Cabinet decision dated September 19, 2013, held series of meetings and examined the data provided by the two Universities and Higher Education Department.
Finally, the committee has drawn conclusion that intake capacity of the existing BEd colleges is more than the admissions sought and the number of non-local students seeking admission in the colleges is declining as BEd colleges are now available in their States, sources informed, adding the committee has also observed that the figures provided by the Services Selection Board indicate that the number of BEd/MEd candidates applying for the posts of teachers is huge and against one advertised post of teacher about nine BEd/MEd candidates apply. Moreover, it has found dearth of quality education owing to unqualified faculty and lack of infrastructure.
“Out of 22 districts, the private colleges exist in 18 districts and since the BEd colleges are available in the vicinity of uncovered districts, there is no need to establish new private BEd colleges as it will further deplete the number of candidates seeking admission in the already-established colleges affecting viability of such institutions”, sources said quoting the observations of the committee.
With these observations, the committee has unanimously recommended that the moratorium imposed on the establishment of new private BEd colleges in the State should continue to remain in force.
However, the Minister for Higher Education, Mohd Akbar Lone, who is strong votary of lifting the moratorium, has made a communication to the Chief Secretary, head of the high-level committee, mentioning that eight cases require sympathetic consideration as these persons have invested a lot of money in creating infrastructure in terms of buildings etc and they want to set up private BEd colleges in those areas where at present there is no such college, sources said.
“Inspection of these eight colleges has also been conducted on the directions of the High Court and inspection committees have recommended establishment of these colleges, which will serve the purpose of imparting BEd education to the students living in these areas”, sources said quoting the communication of the Minister.
They said that observations/recommendation of the high-level committee and communication of the Minister would be placed before the Cabinet tomorrow for final decision.
It is pertinent to mention here that moratorium on the establishment of new private BEd colleges was imposed in pursuance of Cabinet decision dated July 17, 2007.
Sources said that Cabinet will also discuss the draft Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Marriage Registration Rules, 2013 prepared by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
The J&K Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013 has already been passed by both the Houses of State Legislature and it received the assent of Governor on April 24, 2013, sources said, adding the J&K Hindu Marriages Registration Act, 1980 was amended in the light of the Supreme Court judgment dated February 14, 2006 whereby it was directed that marriages of all persons, who are citizens of India and belonging to various religions, shall be compulsorily registrable in their respective States.
The Supreme Court had also directed the Central and State Governments to notify the procedure for registration of marriages by amending the existing rules or by framing new rules.
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