The Hindu : Standoff on admissions likely to continue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Standoff on admissions likely to continue

By Our Staff Correspondent

Belgaum Feb. 12. There appears to be no way out from the standoff on admissions to professional courses between the Karnataka Government and managements of private colleges in the State.

This situation is likely to continue for some more time with the private managements understandably unwilling to agree with the proposal that 50 per cent of seats be earmarked for the government quota.

The only solution under the circumstances is to seek a fresh Supreme Court order, with the percentage of merit seats clearly defined. The question of who shall redeem the loss incurred on account of free seats should also be addressed, according to Prabhakar Kore, MLC.

Mr. Kore, who is a member of the high-power committee constituted by the Government in the light of the Supreme Court judgment on minority educational institutions, denied that managements of private educational institutions were shirking their responsibility towards poor students.

Replying to questions here on Wednesday, he said private managements were willing to spare about 25 per cent of the seats for students belonging to SC, ST and other economically weaker sections of society. The managements would be ready to spare the entire allotment of seats in their colleges "free", but the question was who would pay the fee?

He said a minimum of Rs.2 lakhs would be incurred on each student in a medical college. The cost would be more and could go up to Rs.3 lakhs in institutions with better infrastructure such as hospitals, AICTE pay scales for their staff, etc. If 50 per cent of the seats were to be given to the Government, then would the latter agree to pay the students' fees to save the institutions from suffering losses?

The institutions in North Karnataka were prepared to adopt a special scheme for students from the region for which the Government could evolve a policy considering the injustice done to them, mainly in professional education.

Asked on whose behalf he was speaking since he represented both the Government as a member of the committee and the Association of Private Medical Colleges in the State, he said the matter was being negotiated.

On whether there was any "meeting point" between the Government and the managements, he replied in the negative and suggested that only a fresh order from the Supreme Court could provide a solution.

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