The Hindu : Admissions to minority colleges headed for controversy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Admissions to minority colleges headed for controversy

By J. S. Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD May 28. Admissions to minority professional colleges in the State appear to be heading for a controversy with some colleges deciding to go in for counselling ahead of finalisation of the schedule by the Government.

The Planning Coordination and Monitoring Board for Minorities (PCMB) has decided to hold counselling on May 31 for the candidates who appeared for the MEMCET examination conducted by it.

The PCMB, which has 12 engineering and two pharmacy colleges under its fold, has already despatched MEMCET rank cards to students intimating the date of counselling. They are asked to report for counselling along with proof of Inter exam or 10+2, EAMCET (pass/fail), original MEMCET rank card and hall ticket.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had clearly stated that it would honour only the entrance test conducted by the State agency for admission to professional courses. The JNTU also warned that colleges which do not go by EAMCET would lose their affiliation. Subsequently, the High Court dismissed the writ petitions challenging the JNTU notification that qualifying in EAMCET is a must for admission to technical courses. Notwithstanding the court verdict, the PCMB conducted the MEMCET and now it has initiated the process of counselling.

This has caused lot of confusion among the student community as the Government is yet to decide the admission procedure and fee structure in professional colleges. When contacted, the secretary, State Council for Higher Education, V. Jayaram Reddy, too expressed surprise. He termed the counselling by PCMB as "illegal'' since the Government is yet to come out with the admission schedule. "The PCMB will be asked not to hold the counselling,'' Prof. Reddy said.

Mohd. Fasiuddin, convenor, A.P. Minorities Educational Rights Protection Committee, also criticised the PCMB's decision to hold counselling even before the Government could finalise the admission procedure. He asked the authorities to intervene and take action.

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