Azim Premji University Bill 2010 was passed in Karnataka Legislative Council today amidst dissent and walkout by the Opposition benches. The bill has received nod from Assembly already.<br/><br/>Ratification has now paved way for setting up State’s first private university by IT czar and owner of Wipro, Azim Premji. <br/><br/>During the discussion on the bill in the Council, the Opposition leaders expressed anguish that without any regulatory mechanism, fee structure controls and guidelines the private University will function as a commercial organization with no emphasis on social obligations.<br/><br/>They demanded for a joint Select committee to suggest means to incorporate these features in the bill.<br/><br/>Not accepting the argument, the Higher Education Minister in Karnataka Arvind Limbavali argued that the bill has undergone extensive evaluation for one year and UGC guidelines are followed. <br/><br/>He also said the Governor has the authority to seek any file from the private University and Government can also intervene if any incident of malpractice or dispute arises in the Private University. <br/><br/>He also informed that 25% of the seats will be reserved for the state students and teaching faculty will get an opportunity of getting training in the global standard University to be set up by Azim Premji. He cited the example of Indian Institute of Science and Law University in Haryana where private individuals are its Chancellors. <br/><br/>He said the functioning of 58 private Universities in the Country were studied before the bill was formulated in the State. Not convinced by the reply, the entire opposition walked out of the house saying Government is favoring private individuals without giving any importance to the cause of poor and middle class students. <br/><br/>In the Legislative Assembly too, the bill got assent after a walkout from the Opposition members.<br/>