Students seeking sports quota seats feel cheated

Students, who missed out on CET sports quota seats, have complained that the Karnataka Examinations Authority has made changes to the conditions in the quota seats without giving prior notice and thereby leaving them in the lurch.

Students who had excelled in karate, are staring at an uncertain future as the KEA has not considered their names in the sports quota eligibility list.

With confusion over the recognition of All India Karate-Do Federation, some students have lost a chance to avail seats in the professional course and college of their choice, this year, they said.

A few students have also approached the Karnataka High Court in this regard.

Applications of some students are not being considered even in the general quota for the allotment of medical and dental seats. Meanwhile, the other students, however, have applied under the general category and taken seats in other colleges.

“I could have got a seat in a far better college under the sports quota. My rank is a tad over one lakh. My focus was on sports in college and I thought that would help me get better colleges. When there is a mention in the CET brochure, why is the association not considered,” one of the aggrieved students questioned.

When the KEA put up the eligibility list, it had mentioned that the federation was not recognised and hence, their applications have not been considered. However, the name of the federation figures in the 2018 brochure.

“We are awaiting the hearing of this case in the High Court of Karnataka. I have not even availed a seat in the general category. Already a month of the academic year is lost,” said one of the petitioners. KEA authorities were unavailable for a response.