Date:25/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052555200100.htm

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Counselling dates announced

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Counselling for engineering courses will begin on July 3 and for medical courses on July 4, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy said on Saturday. Sports quota will be the first to be filled through counselling.

Talking to reporters at the Secretariat along with Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Mr. Ponmudy indicated that this year too the admission norm is likely to be in the ratio of 65:35 (65 for government quota and 35 for management) in self-financing colleges.

“We have asked the managements to surrender 65 per cent seats to the government and we hope that they will oblige,” he said. In the case of minority institutions, it will be 50:50. So far, 1.35 lakh applications have been sold for around 1.3 lakh engineering seats.

Fee structure

Asked about the fee structure, he said the committee constituted by the State government to fix the fee would announce its decision next week. “The announcement may come on Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

“The government always wants to reduce the fee,” he said when asked the State Government’s stand on fixing of fee.

The Minister said the number of seats would go up further because of the creation of six more constituent colleges of Anna University. Each college will have 240 seats. Moreover, the university has added 360 seats. “This year Anna University starts a course in biomedical engineering,” Mr Ponmudy said. He ruled out region-wise counselling.

Mr. Panneerselvam said that of the 1,645 medical seats 247 (15 per cent) would go to all India quota. As Tamil Nadu has enacted legislation for providing reservation for religious minorities, both BC Christians and Muslims would get 49 seats each.

Asked whether the government would be in a position to admit students to the Medical College in Dharmapuri, he said, “Steps were being taken to get the necessary approval.” The government is also building up infrastructure in all medical colleges, he further said.

When told about the Comptroller of Auditor-General report (GAG) indicting the Madras Medical College for not having adequate faculties, Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said postings were being made to fill the vacancies. “The departments are getting recognition one by one,” he said.