Stay on admission process in junior colleges vacated

Mumbai, July 14 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today vacated the stay on the admission process for junior colleges in the metropolis which was stayed by the court on July 9, following the state government's decision to withdraw its contovertial 70:30 formula.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice A P Deshpande, while vacating the stay accepted Advocate General Ravi Kadam's submission that the said formula has been withdrawn in public interest.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Thane Corporator Pratap Sarnaik, opposing the formula on the grounds that it will cause serious problems for students and defeat the purpose of attaining higher merits.

On July 9, the bench had admitted the plea and adjourned its hearing till today.

According to the formula proposed in year 2003, 70 per cent of the seats in an institute had to be reserved for students from the same district, while the rest of the seats could be filled by outside students. A government resolution in this regard was issued.

Earlier, while hearing the petition, the bench had observed that the 70:30 ratio was ''very disproportionate'' and directed the state to file its say by July 14.

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