Southern States - Kerala   

Kerala fixes management quota for colleges

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM NOV. 27. The Kerala Cabinet, on Wednesday, fixed the management quota for admissions to self-financing professional colleges at 50 per cent. Briefing presspersons on the Cabinet decisions, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, said that the remaining 50 per cent would be filled on the basis of merit from the rank list of the entrance examination held by the Government.

The seats falling under the management quota should be filled on the basis of an entrance examination conducted by the management in a transparent manner or from the rank list of the entrance examination conducted by the Government.

The Chief Minister clarified that the management quota would include the NRI quota of 10 per cent. The quota would be the same for all colleges, including those belonging to the minorities. The decision would apply to all colleges offering medical (allopathy), Ayurveda and paramedical courses, which are yet to admit students this year. Reservation norms would apply for the merit quota.

A committee consisting of the secretaries for Higher Education and Health and representatives of Law and Finance Departments would fix the fee structure for the colleges. It would also be responsible in ensuring the transparency of the entrance examinations conducted by the managements.

Mr. Antony said the Supreme Court verdict permitted the Government to take appropriate decisions on regulating admissions as per local conditions. The Cabinet had concluded that 50 per cent management quota would be appropriate considering the special circumstances existing in Kerala.The Cabinet, he said, had deferred a decision on the minority status of self-financing colleges as the verdict of the regular bench of the Supreme Court on the matter was awaited. At present, all self-financing colleges would be treated equally.

He said the CITU and other head-load workers' unions which went on the rampage during the picketing of the Secretariat today had been infringing the democratic rights of others.

Admitting that the police had restrained themselves from using force against the picketers who prevented many employees from entering the Secretariat, Mr. Antony said unions had been misusing their freedom. Trade unions and political parties should desist from resorting to agitations that caused hardship to the people. There were other means for registering their protests. The attack on the Press Club was unfortunate.

Replying to questions on arrack ban, Mr. Antony said the ban did not succeed to the extent hoped for. However, the ban would not be withdrawn. The reasons for failure were several. Cooperation was needed to make it a success. Non-governmental organisations, women's organisations and local bodies should play a major role.

After the briefing, the Press Club president, J. Ajithkumar, submitted a representation to the Chief Minister complaining of the inaction of the police when demonstrators attacked the club.

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