Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday passed 10 bills, including a key amendment to reduce the minimum land requirement for setting up private universities.
Presenting the bill, Higher Education Minister Viswanathan said the existing Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act mandates at least 100 acres of contiguous land to establish a private university. Citing land scarcity, the government decided to revise the norms.
Under the proposed changes, the minimum land requirement will be reduced to 12 acres within Chennai Corporation limits, 18 acres in other municipal corporations and municipalities, and 25 acres in other areas. The government has also decided to lower the required endowment fund for private universities.
The amendment will apply to universities already established under the existing law as well, including Shiv Nadar University and Sai University. The remaining nine bills—covering areas such as recruitment through TNPSC for urban local bodies, mandi licence extensions and online licensing, GST-related amendments, tenure extension for special officers in local bodies across 28 districts, MLA allowances, fire and rescue law updates, town and country planning changes, and VAT tribunal provisions—were passed by voice vote.
