Date:12/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/12/stories/2006081216450400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Plea for seats under rural quota rejected

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed petitions by three students seeking a direction to the Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell to consider them for allotment of seats in professional colleges under the rural quota category.

Arun Kumar of Sulakpet in Sindhanur of Raichur district and two other students had moved the court against the denial of seats under the rural quota category. In his petition, Arun said he had studied in Sindhanur, which was designated as a rural area from 1st standard to 5th standard.

He later had his schooling at Navodaya Vidyalaya at Mudgal, Raichur district. Ashe had studied in a school, which was designated as a rural area, he was eligible for benefit under the rural quota.

He said after passing the 12th standard from the Navodaya Vidyalaya, he appeared for the CET in 2006 and secured the 7,726th rank in medicine and 11,610 rank in engineering. Though he was eligible for benefit under rural quota, the CET Cell refused to entertain such an application when he went for counselling on July 5, 2006 for medical seats. He was, however, given a seat under the Scheduled Caste (general) category in medicine.

He said he wanted to appear for counselling for engineering seats which commences from Saturday.