Karnataka: Private medical colleges give in, to admit 40 per cent CET students

Bengaluru: The State Government's threat to implement Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006 has yielded results. According to highly placed sources the state medical education department, private medical and dental colleges have agreed to surrender 40 per cent of their seats for Rs 65,000 as annual fee for the government CET students.

Sources said, as per the understanding reached between the private medical colleges association and state government, this agreement will be limited only to this year. The state government has assured not to implement the 2006 Act regarding reservation in private colleges. As per the Act colleges must provide 50 per cent reservation for socially weaker sections of the society besides following strict admission procedures. As per this act, all the seats (except 15 per cent NRI seats) should be filled up through roster and merit basis.

“Once the 2006 Act is implemented, which is now under suspension, colleges becomes more accountable for all the decisions they take. If they violate any guidelines there is provision even for imprisonment. This is the reason why colleges are against the 2006 Act. We feel colleges will come on board again and surrender 40 per cent of their intake to the government CET students.” informed an officer.

Option entry
KEA has postponed the option entry process to June 17 expecting new medical seat matrix.

Fee fixation panel
The State Government already has the report of the Justice R. Gururajan fee fixation committee, which has recommended a separate fee structure for every medical and dental college. “The state government is ready to implement this committee report. To implement this report, the 2006 Act should be implemented first. We are waiting for the response from the private medical/ dental college managements.” he said.

Pvt colleges’ stand
M.S. Jayaram of MS Ramaiah Medical College said, “We made our decision 20 days back. The government is yet to revert back with any modified proposal. We cannot run medical colleges on a low fee structure. There is a need for its revision,” he said.

New fee fixation panel?
Private colleges are demanding the formation of a new fee fixation committee to ensure that they do not lose any revenue because of the implementation of NEET. But the state government may not agree to both the conditions as it may face the wrath of the students.