JOIN USRecently, the State government had issued a government order that appoints KEA as the State agency to conduct PGCET and also counselling for admissions to PG courses in the State.
According to Reddy, the move violates Section 20 of the VTU Act, which empowers the University to make regulations regarding admission of students to university, constituent colleges, and holding of examinations by the university and constituent colleges.
“The fundamental question is under what provisions can they conduct it? Is it possible for KEA to conduct PGCET? Will it not violate the provisions made in the VTU Act-1994,” asks Reddy.
The former Vice Chancellor pointed out that when general universities enjoy freedom of conducting the entrance test, counselling and admitting the students to their own programmes, the government should not have singled out VTU. Moreover, he questioned the capability of KEA in preparing question papers for the PGCET.
“ To prepare question papers in the nine disciplines of Engineering and Technology and also MBA and MCA, more than 100 experts in different fields of Engineering and Technology are required. How will the officials of KEA know the experts in all these disciplines?”, he asked.
Reddy said nowhere in the country are common admission tests conducted under the Chairmanship of a political leader. The Higher Education Minister is the Chairman of the KEA.