A Parliamentary panel has suggested that a proposal to upgrade Goa University into a central university be dropped at present and efforts made in this regard later.The parliamentary standing committee on HRD on the central universities bill 2008 said that the views both in favour and against the up gradation of Goa University into a central university seemed to have some substance.

“The committee is of the opinion that the provision relating to upgradation of Goa University into a central university be dropped at this stage. Efforts may, however, be made to evaluate the situation with a holistic and balanced approach to ensure that Goa does not remain the only state without a central university,” it said.

In its report presented to both houses of Parliament, the committee noted that there were divergent views with one section referring to the admission of students on all-India basis, thus affecting the locals. The other view was that the move would provide solution for resource crunch and faculty shortage. The bill proposes to establish 12 new central universities in the states which do not have a central university so far and to upgrade four existing state universities into central universities.

-NT