Karnataka: Suspense fails to end over state government quota in private medical colleges

Karnataka: After recent media reports gave hope to many medical aspirants in the state that they will be granted admission in private medical colleges under 40% state government quota through CET; now, there seems to be another bottleneck holding talks between the state government and the private medical colleges managements. There is reportedly an the issue of fee hike consensus of 10% between the state government and private medical colleges management. The government is reported to offer 5% additional fee hike, which is not agreeable to the association.

There was a crucial meeting to be held between the two on June 18; however, the meeting did not take place. There are two different views of the two groups of Private college managements-minority and non-minority.

The counseling process of CET has already started; still the issue continues remaining unsorted. Now, the Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges’ Association is seeking time till June 25 from the government to hold any further talks regarding the matter at hand.

Association secretary Shafi Ahmed said to The Hindu that the member colleges were asking for the fee to be fixed according to records submitted to the fee fixation committee, meaning that each college will have a different fee structure. “The government is suggesting a five per cent enhancement of fee which we haven’t agreed on,” he said.

On the other hand, office-bearers of Karnataka Professional Colleges Foundation said they were still examining the legal angles to the implementation of the consensual agreement. “We have to see if the consensual agreement is enforceable by law first. We have some legal opinions from New Delhi,” said M.R. Jayaram from the foundation.

However, Minister of State for Medical Education Sharanprakash R. Patil said private colleges had come around to give the government seats, but on condition of a hike in fee. “By Monday, everything should be clear,” he added.

MD team recently reported that the issue between the state government and the private medical colleges’ managements has been lingering for long. It only got settled after the government delivered on its promise of a 10 per cent fee hike (in private medical colleges) granted earlier, and also another 10 per cent proposal to be considered now.