Bangalore: Some 4,500 Engineering seats, including 1,200 in Information Science and about 500 in Computer Science, are vacant so far as the second round of counselling is nearing completion, Karnataka Higher Education Minister G Parameshwara said on October 13.

Speaking to reporters, he said despite availability of increased number of total seats this year, vacant seats were less compared to last year, when it was 6,500. "The situation is far better when compared to other states."

He said the initial problems over the seat-sharing issue between the government and the managements had not made any impact on their schedule with classes already commencing for Engineering courses.

Parameshwara said the admission process was "less problematic" in Karnataka compared to other states.

He said government would write to Chief Justice of the High Court seeking appointment of two retired judges to head two separate committees on regulation of admission and fee structure, in line with a Supreme Court verdict.

Parameshwara said government was also considering doing away with the Collegiate Education Department as its functions could be discharged by the administration of the university concerned. The state government would soon send a study team to Tamil Nadu, where such a step had been taken, he added.

PTI