The government can refuse permission to the foreign education providers (FEP) to operate in India in the interests of sovereignty, integrity, security and morality, the Centre is understood to have told the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a brief note sent to the BJP, the main Opposition party, on the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, the government said that the FEP would have to ensure that the quality of programmes offered in India was on a par with those offered in the home country, and meets the standards laid down by the relevant statutory bodies in India. There are also provisions for protecting the interest of students, teachers and employees in the event of closure of institutions.
The BJP had, on Wednesday, sought details of the proposed legislation when Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal met senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi to seek his party's support in ensuring the passage of the Bill.
The Bill has been opposed by the Left, while the BJP was not positively inclined towards it in its initial reaction when it was cleared by the Union Cabinet. The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, too, are opposed to it.
Though Mr. Joshi sought a copy of the Bill from Mr. Sibal which he could discuss with the party before taking a final decision, the government sent across a note highlighting the main provisions of the proposed legislation.
“As and when the note is received, it will be placed before the party,” Mr. Joshi told The Hindu .
