The Hindu : Oppn. slams Govt. on admissions, fee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Oppn. slams Govt. on admissions, fee

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore March 31. The entire opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly today staged a dharna, resenting the attitude of the Information Minister, Kagodu Thimmappa, who was charged with making light of the issue of admission and fee structure in professional courses, raised by it.

The dharna, which continued despite the intervention of Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, who said that Mr. Thimmappa was only seeking suggestion from it and had no intention of diluting the seriousness, forced the Speaker, M.V.Venkatappa, to adjourn the House for 15 minutes for a meeting of various group leaders. When the situation did not improve, the Chair adjourned the House second time for lunch.

Even as the House met for the day, the Opposition members insisted on a statement from the Government making it clear that they would not allow any other matter to be raised till then.

The members pointed out that the managements of colleges had stated that they would go ahead with admission on the basis of their own seat-matrix and fee structure after March 31.

The Leader of the Opposition, Jagadish Shettar, who raised the issue, was supported by the JD(U) members, B.Somashekar, B.N.Bachche Gowda, and P.G.R.Sindhia and C.Chennigappa (JD-S) and Jayaprakash Hegde (Ind.).

The Law and Parliamentary Minister, D.B.Chandre Gowda, said the Government had greater concern for students than the Opposition and it had set up a Cabinet Sub-Committee, a committee headed by an Additional Chief Secretary, and one comprising of vice-chancellors to go into the issue. The Cabinet would meet tomorrow to formulate its stand and there was no harm in waiting till then.

As for filing review petition, Mr. Gowda said the legal opinion was that it served no purpose. The Minister for Medical Education, Maalakaraddy, referred to a meeting of State health secretaries and legal experts, convened by the Union Health Minister, which had asked the Attorney General of India to frame a draft law that could be enacted by Parliament.

C.Byre Gowda (JD-U) said the Government should not say its hands were tied; it should get the Constitution amended, if necessary.

Mr. Somashekar and A.Ramdas (BJP) wanted to know if the Government had announced a detailed seat matrix and fee structure while announcing the CET.

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