Bangalore: The Common Entrance Test 2004 (CET) for selection of students for admission into professional courses in Karnataka would be held on May 12 and 13, as it was announced today (Feb 3, 2004).

In addition to medical, dental, ayurveda, homoeopathy, unani, naturopathy, yoga and engineering courses, the Government has decided to conduct CET for various other degree courses this year including in pharmacy, nursing and physiotherapy, Minister for Higher Education and Information G Parameshwara said.

CET would also be conducted for paramedical and allied health science courses such as medical laboratory technology, radiography, anaesthesia technology, cardiac technology, neuroscience technology, operation theatre technology, perfusion technology, radiation and imaging science technology, renal dialysis technology and respiratory care technology.

Parmaeshwara said that this year, the test will be conducted only for Karnataka candidates including "horanadu" and "gadinadu" Kannadiga candidates, residing outside the State and non-Karnataka students would not be permitted to appear.

He said non-Karnataka students would have to appear for the CET conducted by COMED-K, a consortium of private professional colleges to seek admission under management quota.

Parameshwara said that as per the Supreme Court directive two committees headed by retired High Court Judges had been set up to regulate admissions and fix uniform fee structure.

The High Court has named retired judges- Mulgund and Venkataramana to head these committees, he said.

Parameshwara said the committee headed by Karnataka Public Service Commission Secretary, Harish Gowda to probe the alleged irregularities that had taken place in awarding ranks to 90 non-Karnataka students who secured admission in medical courses last year has observed that "invisible hand" is involved in it.

The committee has however stated that CET cell was not responsible for the irregularity and the Government would soon decide whether to cancel the admission of these students or what action could be taken against them.