Kerala for Legislation on SC verdict on Professional colleges

Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 (UNI) The Kerala government will bring in legislation in the coming Assembly session to overcome the Supreme Court verdict permitting self-financing professional colleges to their own fees and to ensure government fees in the merit seats in these colleges, Chief Minister V S Achutanandan today said.

''The government will have discussions with senior lawyers and see if the verdict could be overcome for the benefit of the poor students unable to pay the huge fees,'' he said, briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting.

Mr Achuthanandan said the LDF always stood for ensuring 50 per cent government quota and government control over the fees in the Self-Financing colleges. ''The fees fixed by the K T Thomas committee, which has now been endorsed by the Supreme Court, is not affordable by the poor students. The government through the legislation wants to ensure social justice in education,'' he said.

Counselling for this academic year would start only after a final decision was taken in this regard, he added.

Criticising the previous UDF Government for not putting pressure on the Centre for including the Kerala Self-financing Professional Colleges (Prohibition of Capitation Fees and Procedure for Admission and Fixation of Fees) Act, passed by the government, in the ninth schedule, he said the LDF government would pursue the matter with the Centre.

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