Bangalore: Probe ordered into religious, linguistic minority colleges

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 1: Colleges run by religious and linguistic minorities in Karnataka will be subjected to a high-level probe.

The State Government has constituted a high-level committee to probe into the affairs of engineering and medical colleges run by religious and linguistic minorities following public complaints that some of them have misused their mandate in terms of student admission, appointment of teaching staff and allegedly indulged in business of selling the seats.

Higher Education Minister C T Ravi said the committee comprising top officials of collegiate, technical and medical education and member-Secretary, Karnataka Knowledge Commission M K Sridhar, would probe into alleged irregularities conducted by engineering and medical colleges run by religious and linguistic minorities.

He said some colleges have not filled seats reserved under state quota and sold seats to students of other states.

A few of these colleges had claimed they are providing internet and bus services, among others, while others have totally denied having collected extra money.

Some colleges collected Rs 60,000 more than the prescribed fee suggested by the Government, the Minister said.

The panel has been asked submit a set of recommendations on revised guidelines for all such institutions.

A few engineering and medical colleges have violated rules on fee regulation as per the Venkataramaiah committee report.

The colleges collected more money from students than the prescribed fee by the Government, he said.

As per guidelines, engineering and medical colleges are supposed to reserve 60 per cent of seats for minorities.

But there are large scale complaints that some of them, particularly engineering colleges, are not following the rule and “selling” seats for those from outside the state and others and indulging in “business” Ravi said.

An enquiry has been ordered and institutions which charged a small sum would be warned not to repeat it, while government would take a serious view in cases where they had charged exorbitant sum.

A total of 37 colleges, including 10 in Bangalore, have grossly violated the guidelines, he claimed.

Such colleges would be blacklisted if they did not take steps to set right loopholes in the admission procedures, Ravi warned.

Stating that the very purpose of according minority status has failed, the minister said many complaints have been received on appointments by engineering and medical colleges.

The committee would conduct an enquiry into all this and submit a report to the Government, he added.