Date:01/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/01/stories/2006060104960500.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

KSU for legislation to overcome Supreme Court verdict

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: The Kerala Students' Union (KSU) has demanded that the State Government enact a new law to overcome the verdict of the Supreme Court approving the recommendations of the K.T. Thomas Committee on the fee structure in self-financing professional colleges.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, KSU vice-president M. Liju and general secretary M.B. Saji observed that the State's counsel had failed to present his arguments forcefully before the court, possibly following the directions of the Government.

Mr. Liju said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government seemed to have entered into a secret understanding with the managements of self-financing colleges and agreed to protect their interests. He said the fee for students who got admission in self-financing colleges in merit quota should be equivalent to the fee in government colleges. If the Government fails to do so, the KSU will start a strong agitation to get the demand approved.

He said the KSU approved of the decision of the Centre to implement quota for students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in higher education. But admission to the quota seats should be on the basis of merit. He said that the number of seats in open quota should not be decreased.