A Bill seeking to replace an existing Ordinance to declare the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu to be an institution of national importance was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday by the HRD Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal.

According to the Bill, the institute started enrolling students from the academic year beginning July 2007 and has since developed into a technical institution of national importance in the field of information technology, design and manufacturing-oriented engineering education and research.

In view of the need to award timely degrees by it to the students who have passed out as also to permit the institute to continue its educational activities without having recourse to the regulations of the University Grants Commission, it became necessary to recognise the status of the institute, and to declare it as an institution of national importance by law.

This would also enable the growth of the institute, by giving it more autonomy in academic, administrative and financial matters.

As immediate action was required to be taken to declare the institute as an institution of national importance by law when Parliament was not in session, the President promulgated the Ordinance in this regard on June 20, 2011.

The Bill seeks to replace the Ordinance.

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