While engineering seat allotments under the convenor quota are scheduled to be completed by Monday next, there is no clarity on the filling of management quota seats, much to the consternation of students and their parents.
The government is yet to reply to a note sent by the AP State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) seeking a proper direction in view of new guidelines issued by the High Court.
While upholding the government’s orders on online applications for management quota seats, the court had stated that the colleges also have the right to interview candidates and reject them, if need be.
Caught in a quandary, officials concerned fear that some engineering colleges would leverage this order to reject ‘genuine’ candidates, since they have already completed admissions under this quota ‘unofficially’. The APSCHE has also organised a meeting with college managements to arrive at a solution on issues like students blocking multiple seats in different colleges. But no consensus was reached.
“Another meeting will be held on September 16 for a final solution. We will await the government’s directive before finalising norms,” an official who wished to remain anonymous said.
Even though there are 3.5 lakh seats on offer, the craze is for seats in a few colleges because of the track record in academics and placements. Of the 750-odd colleges, about 50 colleges appear in the top league, where the demand for management seats is huge – it is an open secret that the going rate is upto Rs. 10 lakh.
But, demand for engineering seats is certainly down as 1.3 lakh students appeared for certificate verification for the 2.5 lakh seats in the convenor quota. It means, nearly 1.2 lakh seats will go vacant while another 70,000 seats - out of the one lakh-odd seats in the management quota will also see no-takers.