Updated on 29th September 2020 – The Three bills have received presidential assent
The Rajya Sabha passed three Bills for establishment of educational institutions as institutes of National Importance including Institutes of Information Technology, Surat, Institutes of Information Technology, Bhopal , Institutes of Information Technology, Bhagalpur , Institutes of Information Technology, Agartala, Institutes of Information Technology, Raichur, National Forensic Sciences University, Gujarat (also having campus at Delhi) and Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat.
The Salient features of the bills are as follows:
1. IITs Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
The Bill amends Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017.
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It seeks to declare the abovenamed five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), set up under the Public Private Partnership mode, as institutions of national importance.
Currently, these institutes are registered as Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas. On being declared institutions of national importance, the five institutes will be granted the power to grant degrees.
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha during this year’s Budget Session, on March 20.
2. National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020
The Bill seeks to merge the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar and the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences, New Delhi, and form an institute of national importance.
The newly formed University will be known as the National Forensic Sciences University,with itscampuses both in Delhi and Gujarat.
It was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.
Objectives
The Bill aims to:
- promote academic learning in the field of forensic science in conjunction with applied behavioural science studies, law and other allied areas to strengthen the criminal justice institutions in India
- foster research and applied applications in forensic science, applied behavioural science studies, and law
- coordinate with the central and state governments to improve investigations, crime detection and prevention through research
- assist the central government in creating and maintaining a national forensic database for criminal investigation, including DNA and fingerprints.
Functions of the University
- Provide training and research on forensic science, applied behavioural science, law, and criminology
- Establish and maintain colleges, schools, and research laboratories
- Prescribe courses, holding exams, and granting degrees and other distinctions.
Authorities
The University shall have a Board of Governors, which will be the principal executive body and an Academic Council, which will specify the academic policies of the University.
The Board of Governors will be responsible for all administrative affairs of the University including policy making, instituting courses of study, etc. The members include:
- Vice-Chancellor (appointed by the central government)
- Financial Adviser, Ministry of Home Affairs, ex officio
- five persons of eminence from fields such as forensic science and criminology.
Appeals
Any student whose name has been removed from the rolls of the University and who has been barred from appearing for examinations for more than one year may appeal to the Board of Governors for review of the decision.
Any dispute arising out the disciplinary action taken by the University against a student may be referred to a Tribunal of Arbitration.
3. Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020
The Rajya Sabha also passed the Bill to establish the National Defence University in Gujarat as an institute of national importance.
It was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.
Objectives
The Bill aims to:
- Provide dynamic and high standards of learning and research
- Provide a working environment dedicated to advancing research, education and training in the domain of policing
- Promoting and providing public safety.
Functions of the University
- Provide instructions and research in police sciences, including coastal policing and cyber security
- Establish and maintaining colleges
- Prescribe courses, holding exams, and granting degrees and other distinctions.
Authorities
The University shall have a Governing Body, to frame the broad policies and programmes of the University; an Executive Council, which will be the principal executive body; and an Academic Council, which will specify the academic policies of the University.
The Governing Body will be responsible for all administrative affairs of the University including policy making, advising on course duration, admission standards etc. and making statutes to regulate various authorities of the University for National Importance. It’s members include:
- Vice-Chancellor (appointed by the central government)
- one representative of Ministry of Home Affairs, not below the rank Joint Secretary (nominated by the central government)
- one representative of State Police Universities by rotation
- three persons having expertise in defence, policing, internal security and allied fields.
Appeals
Any student whose name has been removed from the rolls of the University and who has been barred from appearing for examinations for more than one year may appeal to the Governing Body for review of the decision.
Any dispute arising out the disciplinary action taken by the University against a student may be referred to a Tribunal of Arbitration.
