Kerala to approach apex court in self-financing college issue

New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said today the state government would go in for appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court division bench order allowing the management of self-financing professional colleges to go ahead with their selection process for admitting students to 50 per cent management quota for this academic year.

However, the government would simultaneously pursue discussion with those concerned with a view to finding a solution to the issue.

"WE are not against any discussion," he said, adding the new legislation on self-financing colleges was brought by his government only to ensure social justice, protect merit and eliminate corruption and capitation fee.

Appealing that all concerned should seek to understand the anxiety of the students and their parents, Mr Achuthanandan said the effort of the government would be to ensure that there was no problem to begin courses without any hitch during the current academic year.

He said the government had gone in for appeal against the single bench verdict. "Likewise, we will approach the apex court against the division bench order." Rejecting the Kerala Government's appeal against the July 18 order of a single judge, the High Court today upheld the interim order made by single judge allowing the process of admission for the current academic year in a bid to end uncertainty over the future of about 85,000 students.

The court has decided to hear final arguments in the matter on September 12.

Asked about reports that the cooperative medical college hospital in Kochi was collecting Rs 24 lakh for each medical seat in the name of development fund, Mr Achuthanandan said he had also seen the reports and would examine if it was correct. "However, the government does not approve of the system of capitation fee." He denied the charge of the Congress-led Opposition that his government was a total failure, and said, "it was an interpretation by some." Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala asked the Achuthanandan government to give up "false prestige" and stop "legal battle" and explore ways to evolve a consensus with the management through discussion.

"We cannot afford to prolong the issue at the expense of the future of students," he said.

Mr Chennithala told mediapersons that the High Court verdict had, in effect, ratified the formula of the previous Congress-led government to earmark 50 per cent of the seats to the management and filling up the remaining 50 per cent from the merit quota. There must be a social control on self-financing institutions.

In this context, he pointed out that the government in neighbouring Tamil Nadu was trying to replicate the 50:50 formula of the UDF government in its state.

Referring to new legislation passed by the Marxist-led government on self-financing colleges, Mr Chennithala said the court verdict had once again proved that the stand of the ruling coalition on the issue was "immature and impractical." UNI SH RS1826