K'taka Assembly passes Bill on admissions to prof colleges

Bangalore, Apr 5 (UNI) The Karnataka Assembly today gave its assent to a legislation on regulation of admissions and determination of fee for professional educational institutions in the State, even as the Opposition parties led by the Congress staged a walkout after making a vain bid to refer it to the Joint Select Committee.

The Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee Bill 2006, moved by Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy, provided 50 per cent reservation in admissions to students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes.

The Minister highlighted the need to pilot the Bill in the wake of the Supreme Court judgement seeking states to regulate admissions through committees for overseeing admissions and for approving the fee structure, pending enactment of an appropriate law by Parliament.

The Bill also provided for filling up of seats in professional colleges through a single common entrance test followed by centralised counselling. Besides, it enabled 66 per cent reservation in minority institutions for students from that community within the State.

Stating that the legislation might not stand the test of law, the Opposition parties led by the Congress pointed out that there were several irregularities and wanted it to be referred to the Joint Select Committee.

However, Mr Shankaramurthy stood firm on the passage of the Bill following which the Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh, staged a walkout protesting against the ''adamant'' attitude of the government in not heeding the Opposition's suggestions.

The House also passed a few other Bills, including an amendment to the Bangalore Development Authority Act providing for formation of a High Tech city.

UNI VK RG JN HT1914