HC stays admission process in junior colleges

Mumbai, Jul 9 (UNI) Bombay High Court today stayed the admission process for junior colleges in the metropolis till July 14 following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) opposing the Maharashtra goverment's 70:30 formula.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice A P Deshpande, while admitting the PIL, observed that 70:30 ratio was ''very disproportionate'' and directed the state to file its say by July 14, the next date of hearing.

According to the state goverment's proposed 2003 formula for enrolment, 70 per cent of seats are to be reserved for local students (of the district where the institute is located) and the rest for those coming from other areas.

The formula was challanged by Thane corporator Pratap Sarnaik, alleging that implementation of the formula will cause serious prejudice to students and defeat the purpose of attaining higher merits.

A government resolution (GR), issued in 2003, has been put into effect after a letter was sent to all colleges on July 4, asking them to implement the formula.

UNI AAA-GS SSS MIR AS2124