From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, May 31: In a rebuff to the B S Yeddyurappa regime, Karnataka’s deemed medical universities have turned down the State Government’s request for allot some percentage of medical seats to the Government in their colleges.
Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda disclosed that the department had held four rounds of talks with managements of eight deemed universities in the State and appealed them to allot at least 27 % of seats for students under the government quota.
But managements, he said had completely rejected the government’s plea and cited the Supreme Court judgment which ruled that the government has no role in the admission of students in deemed university colleges.
The State Law Ministry has clarified that deemed universities do not come under the purview of the government, and were empowered to fill all their seats by themselves.
"We now intend to amend the existing law in the State to compel deemed medical universities to provide admission to students under the government quota,” he said.
In the proposed amendment, the Government has decided to put a condition to colleges that at least 27 % of seats should be left to the discretion of the State, the minister explained.
While the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMED-K) has provided 42 % seats, he said minority institutions provided 27 % for the government in their medical colleges.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) had granted the deemed university status to the Kolar-based Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE University, Belgaum, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University and five other colleges in the State.
Gowda said the private medical colleges have agreed to reserve 4 % of seats for physically challenged students and 3 % for NCC students. A total of 40 and 10 medical seats are
available for physically challenge and NCC students.
The counseling for medical students would start from June 3, he added.