The Kerala Self Financing Engineering College Management Association has reached an understanding with the state government for setting aside 50 per cent seats for merit quota this year.

The understanding was arrived at a meeting between the chief minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues and representatives of the association at a meeting here. The final agreement will, however, be signed on July 21.

As per the agreement, the association will be allowed to charge a special fee of Rs 25,000 each for 25 per cent of the seats set aside for government quota. It was also agreed that managements can set aside 15 per cent of the seats for community quota from the merit quota.

In the event of vacant seats, the association has been allowed to hold their own entrance tests under the supervision of the P.A. Mohammad committee.

The medical management association also held discussions with the government. The association too had been favouring a break up in merit quota seats.

They want 30 per cent seats under the government quota to be community quota seats, 30 per cent seats for socially and educationally backward castes (SEBC), 30 per cent general merit quota seas and 10 per cent seats for SC/ST category.

Meanwhile,the representatives of Catholic engineering college managements also held discussions with the government but could not arrive at an understanding. The Catholic college managements sought more time to take a decision on setting aside seats for the government quota.

The representatives of Inter Church Council who were scheduled to hold discussions with the government on Monday did not turn up for the meeting.