Part VIII, Ext. No. 8, L. C. BILL No. I OF 2026. A BILL further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016. Saturday 28th February 2026.

RNI No. MAHENG /2009/35528 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ वर्षष १२, अंक ७] शानिनवारा, फेेब्रुुवाराी २८, २०२६ / फेाल्गुन ९, शाके १९४७ ]पष्ृठ े3, निकमं त : रुपये े२७.०० असाधााराण क्रमांक ८ प्राानिधाकृत प्राकाशान महाारााष्ट्र निवधाानमंडळााचेे अनिधानिनयेम व रााज्येपालांांनी प्राख्येानिपत केलांेलांे अध्येादेेशा व केलांेलांे निवनिनयेम आनिण निवनिधा व न्येाये निवभाागाकडून आलांेलांी निवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे). In pursuance of clause (3) of article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation in English of the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on the 28th February 2026, is hereby published under the authority of the Governor. By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra, SATISH WAGHOLE, Secretary (Legislation) to Government, Law and Judiciary Department. ———————— L. C. BILL No. I OF 2026. A BILL further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016. WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session; AND WHEREAS, the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances exited which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate Mah. VI action further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, for the of 2017. purposes hereinafter appearing ; and, therefore, promulgated the Maharashtra Mah. Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, on the 18th February 2026 ; Ord. I of 2026. AND WHEREAS it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance, by an Act of the State Legislature; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :— 1. (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Public Universities Short title and (Amendment) Act, 2026. commencement. (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 18th February 2026. भााग आठ—८-१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, फेेब्रुुवाराी २८, २०२६ / फेाल्गुन ९, शाके १९४७ Amendment 2. In section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 Mah. VI of section 109 of 2017. (hereinafter referred to as “the principal Act”), in sub-section (3),— of Mah. VI of 2017. (1) in clause (d), after the existing proviso, the following proviso shall be added, namely :— “Provided further that, for the academic year 2026-2027, the State Government may grant Letter of Intent on or before 15th March 2026.”; (2) in clause (g), second proviso and Table shall be deleted. Repeal of 3. (1) The Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, Mah. Mah. Ord. I of 2026, is hereby repealed. Ord. I of 2026 and 2026. saving. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken (including any notification or order issued) under the corresponding provisions of the principal Act, as amended by the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done, taken or, as the case may be, issued under the corresponding provisions of the principal Act, as amended by this Act.महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, फेेब्रुुवाराी २८, २०२६ / फेाल्गुन ९, शाके १९४७ 3 STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS Section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of 2017), provides for the procedure for permission for opening new college or new course, subject, faculty, division or satellite centre. Clause (d) of sub-section (3) of said section 109 provides that, out of the applications recommended by the university, the State Government may grant a Letter of Intent on or before 31st January of the immediately following year after the recommendations of the university under clause (c) of said section 109. 2. Due to Code of Conduct for elections of local authorities the Government was not able to grant Letter of Intent within the prescribed period. The Government, therefore, considered expedient to amend clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 109, suitably, so as to extend the date for grant of Letter of Intent by the State Government for opening a new college or institution of higher learning for the academic year 2026-2027. 3. As both Houses of the State Legislatures were not in session and the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, for the aforesaid purposes, the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, (Mah. Ord. I of 2026), was promulgated by the Governor of Maharashtra on the 18th February 2026. 4. The Bill is intended to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the State Legislature. Mumbai, CHANDRAKANT (DADA) PATIL, Dated the 27th February 2026. Minister for Higher and Technical Education. ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.