Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: In a move to stay away from legal hurdles, the state Cabinet which is meeting Thursday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik may approve a proposal to amend the Orissa Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of admission and fixation of fee) Act, 2007.
Officials in the skill development and technical education (ST&TE) department indicated that a memorandum on the proposed amendment has been forwarded to the Cabinet for approval.
The department has decided to bring amendments in the Act with regard to admission rules, fixation of fee, prohibition of capitation fee and reservation
in admissions.
Earlier, the state had constituted a high-powered committee (HPC) under the chairmanship of BPUT vice-chancellor and later it referred the HPC suggestions to the Cabinet sub-committee for necessary recommendations.
The Cabinet sub-committee has
examined and submitted its suggestions, sources added.
“After the Cabinet approval, it will be introduced in the Assembly for passage and legislation,,” said an official.
As per existing norms, the state has to conduct entrance test (Orissa Joint Entrance Examination) for admission to various technical institutions in the state. However, after the amendment, the state government need not conduct OJEE and may participate in JEE, they said.
In a bid to recover revenue loss due to continuous fall in prices of petrol and diesel, the Cabinet may also pass a proposal to rationalise VAT rates on petrol
and diesel under Orissa VAT Act 2004, sources said.
Among other proposals, amendment to BPUT Act, establishing a separate directorate of steel, amendment on appointment of principals in polytechnic colleges, amendment of Orissa service of engineers (validation and appointment) Act 2002 and Orissa labour welfare rules, 2015 are likely to be discussed in the Cabinet.