Comed-K rider for common CET

Managements insist on panel for revision of fee structure

 
Comed-K also made it abundantly clear that a common CET is “unlikely” till the Government addresses a recent High Court division bench verdict striking down the MoU between the two sides.

At a meeting convened by Minister of Higher Education Aravind Limbavali on Friday to discuss the possibilities of a unified Common Entrance Test (CET), both sides agreed that the way to take things forward would be to set up a committee to resolve the differences.

“We promise the managements that there will be continuous dialogue between us. A committee will be formed to discuss and resolve the issues for a common CET as early as possible,” Limbavali said.

Key issues

But, speaking to the media immediately afterwards, Comed-K Executive Secretary Dr S Kumar said a common CET will not materialise till the government addressed certain key issues. “To put it in plain terms a common CET is unlikely till the Government addresses our demands. The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) should not perform as an outreach arm of the government and be an independent and autonomous authority,” he said.

Deccan Herald had reported on November 26 that a High Court division bench verdict ruled out the MoU and asked the managements to refund fees to the tune of Rs 8.5 crore to students who were admitted as part of the higher fee category. In response to the demands made by the managements for the government to reimburse the fees owed as part of the verdict, Principal Secretary of Higher Education, A S Srikanth said the Government would await the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter. During the meeting, Limbavali’s suggestion of a common CET was strongly countered by private college representatives, who voiced a variety of concerns and issues that impede the possibility of a Common CET.

Practically all the managements unanimously sought the institution of the Fee Fixation Committee to revise the fees and have a common fee. D Jawahar of the PES group of institutions said a common CET would be possible only if there was a common fee for all students. The managements also called for the KEA to be a completely independent and autonomous body, which allowed students from outside the State to be admitted via CET.

Meanwhile, several other members who participated in the meeting questioned the very presence of the entrance tests. Notably, MLA Hemachandra Sagar of the Sagar group said the Tamil Nadu model of taking into account the Pre-university marks was sufficient and managements had a very important role in terms of social responsibility.