Minister for Higher Education C.T. Ravi on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that all private universities in the State have to set aside 40 per cent of seats for students from Karnataka and follow the reservation system as per government orders.
In a reply to a question by N.A. Harris of the Congress, Mr. Ravi said universities have to set up a fee committee headed by a retired judge. Private universities have not been permitted to provide distance education and affiliation to colleges.
The State government has permitted establishment of 16 private universities so far. Managements have to acquire 25 acres of land in Bangalore Urban to set up a private university, 40 acres in BMRDA limits and 60 acres in district headquarters.
All private universities should hold an endowment fund of Rs. 25 crore while establishing the university, he said. In Karnataka, there are 195 engineering colleges and of them only 13 are government-owned, he said.
