SC upheld interim order by Kerala HC on professional colleges

New Delhi, Aug 25 (UNI) The Supreme Court today upheld the interim order passed by Kerala High Court directing the state government that admissions to professional colleges in Kerala would remain like last year at 50 per cent seats for the government and 50 per cent seats for the private unaided college management.

A bench comprising Mr. Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr. Justice D K Jain also directed that the admissions made by the engineering colleges in the state would not be disturbed.

The Apex Court directed that any complains regarding irregularities in the admissions to professional colleges including medical colleges could be gone into and decided by the Admission Regulatory Commitee.

The court also ruled that the state government had brought in the impugned legislation very late.

The impugned legislation which came into force with effect from July 2, 2006 provided that state quota in the admission would be 80 per cent and the management quota would be 20 per cent.

Private colleges challenged the legislation on the ground that it was an attempt by the state government to nationalise professional education in the state and it was trying to hijack the admission process.

The Kerala government,however, contended that it was enacted to check the menace of private unaided colleges fleecing the candidates and their parents by charging exhorbitant capitation fees at the time of admission and in the process virtually selling the seats in professional colleges.The private colleges were least bothered about merits and other relevant factors which should be taken into account at the time of making admissions.

Today's order came after marathon arguments spread over almost a week. The petitioner had prayed to the court to quash the Kerala professional colleges (Prohibition of capitation fees, regulation of admissions, fixation of non-exploitative fees and other measures to ensure equity and excellance in professional education) Act 2006 which according to the petitioner have sought to virtually nationalise the running of private unaided colleges including minority institutions.

UNI AKS/SC MS PC2115