From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 15: The State Legislative Assembly amended the Karnataka State Open University (Amendment) Bill, 2016, on Thursday, to prevent the university from opening of centres outside Karnataka.

The Bill removed the provisions regarding opening of centres outside the State by the University as it contradicted the instructions issued by the University Grants Commission regarding jurisdiction of university and the provisions of Article 245 of the Constitution, which was reiterated by the Supreme Court in the case of ProfYashpalvs state of Chattisgarh.

Amidst the protests and dharna by Opposition BJP and JD(S) members over the suicide of the DySP M K Ganapathy in the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was passed on Thursday and it amended the KSOU Act, 1996, for restricting the university to stick to its territorial jurisdiction while running its courses.

As the KSOU had stretched its programmes beyond the State citing the Act that permitted it to open study centres outside the State.

The Assembly also passed four other Bills.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was passed to overcome unemployment problem in the SCs and STs and to encourage their participation in such number of works not exceeding 17.5 per cent and 6.95 per cent for persons belonging to SCs and STs out of the total number of number government construction works upto Rs 50 lakh.

The Lower House also passed the Karnataka Stamp (fourth amendment) Bill, 2016, to replace an ordinance which was promulgated on June 22, 2016 with regard to mining lease and operations.

Both Houses passed the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University Bill, 2016.