Karnataka Professional Educational Inst. Act to be implemented soon

The Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006  will be implemented soon with some amendments to check irregularities in the admission and fee fixation in professional colleges in the state, by the Government of Karnataka.

Medical education minister Sharan Prakash Patil told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government had already begun the consultation process and was taking the opinions of students, professional institutions and opposition parties before finalizing the amendments to the Act. “The implementation of the Act is the only solution to end malpractices, discipline professional colleges and plug the systemic loopholes,” said Patil.

He said even the deemed universities, which are refusing to part with their seats, would fall in line once the Act is implemented. He pleaded helplessness with regard to the deemed universities. “We have eight deemed universities. We haven’t issued a No Objection Certificate (NoC) to all of them. Despite our refusal to issue an NoC, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has conferred the deemed university status on them,” he said.

The minister revealed that BJP government in 2010 had, through a government order, exempted Nitte and Yenepoya universities from surrendering 25% of the seats, despite it being mandatory. “I withdrew the order and asked them to give 25% of the seats for the seat matrix, but they are refusing. To make them fall in line, we are withdrawing the facilities given to them,” he said.

The minister said the seat matrix of 31 out of 46 medical colleges had been announced, while the rest would be announced once the Medical Council of India gives its approval. The last date for admission to medical courses is August. Referring to the government medical seats, he said: “We lost 250 medical seats. After our request, we got back 150, while efforts are on to get back more seats,” he said.

Date: 7/7/2014

Source: TOI