Date:13/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/13/stories/2007061318920100.htm

Front Page

Christian colleges to fill 40% from merit list

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The managements of Christian educational institutions will follow the Government's merit list to fill 40 per cent of the seats in their self-financing professional colleges this year, the Inter-Church Council for Education said here on Tuesday.

In a press release, the council said these admissions would be made in a transparent manner, on the basis of merit and principles of social justice.

Admissions to the seats set apart for socially and economically backward students, as well as seats under the community quota, will be on the basis of merit.

"The fee would be the same for all students and it would be fixed at a fair level. Twenty-five per cent of the students would be taught free, by giving them scholarships [to meet the college fee]," the council said.

It regretted that the Government, which had resorted to strong measures to evict encroachers from public land in Munnar and other parts of the State, should continue its "efforts to encroach upon the right to education guaranteed to the minority communities by the Constitution."

Council plea

"The Government should ideally cooperate with the college managements in their efforts to provide quality professional education to all sections of the people, especially the backward sections," the council said.

Meanwhile, another writ petition was filed before the High Court challenging the Government decision to take into account only the marks obtained in the Common Entrance Test while selecting candidates for professional courses except B.Arch.

In his petition, O. Prabhanjanan, a parent of a candidate, said the Government was bound to take into account the marks obtained by a candidate in the higher secondary examination also.

He sought a directive to the Government to consider the marks obtained in the higher secondary examination..