HC approved K T Thomas committees's decision

Kochi, Jul 18: The Kerala High Court today directed the State Government and the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations to permit self-financing college managements to fill up 50 per cent of the seats and to levy fee as per the K T Thomas committee's decision.

Justice S Siri Jagan was not inclined to stay the operation of the Kerala Self-Financing Colleges (Regulation and Control) Act 2006.

The court issued the interim order on a batch of writ petitions filed by the Kerala Self-Financing College Managements Association, Unaided Training Colleges Managements Association and some individual colleges.

The High Court stated that the Act came into force only on July 2, this year, but the Controller of Entrance Examinations had already started the admission process for 2005-06 as per the prospectus issued on January 5, 2006 and the provisions contained for levying fee as well as method of selection stated therein.

The court also noted that on a case pending before the Supreme Court on May 17, 2006, there was a direction by the apex court permitting the managements to fill up 50 per cent seats and also to levy fee in accordance with the decision of the Justice K T Thomas committee.

UNI