Bangalore: The stand off between Karnataka Government and private professional colleges over fixing of a seat sharing quota and fee structure headed for a showdown with COMED-K (Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka) deciding to approach the High Court for relief.

After a marathon two-and-half-hour deliberations, the COMED-K representatives denounced the Murugod Committee decision to slash the already fixed fee structure as "unscientific" and Venkataraman committee upholding Government's formula of 75:25 ratio seat quota.

Emerging from the meeting, COMED-K Chairman, R L Jalappa said it decided to file a petition before the High Court challenging the decisions on seat sharing quota and fee structure.

Jalappa declared that the private colleges would deny admission to students, if the Government allotted them in the CET (Common Entrance Test) counselling scheduled to start from July 8 till the dispute was resolved amicably and to the COMED-K satisfaction.

These decisions were not in consonance with the Supreme Court verdict which fixed 50:50 seat sharing formula and a uniform fee structure for each college to be fixed by a committee headed by a High Court Judge, the meeting felt, he said.

Jalappa said the COMED-K consented to the 75:25 ratio seat sharing last year to save the face of the State Government as the Supreme Court's verdict came at the last minute.

Pouring out its anger on the Murugod Committee for reducing the fee structure, Jalappa said, the Committee did not take into account the demands of the colleges and its arguments on cost of running the institutions.

He said the private college managements have suffered losses to the tune of Rs two to three crore last year and declared under the present situation it was difficult to run the institutions.

Lashing out at the Government for its statements that it was concerned over protecting the interests of students, Jalappa shot back, "We are also sympathetic to students. But without proper fee we cannot run the colleges".

Meanwhile, Minister for Higher Education, D Manjunath said the CET will commence counselling from July 8 and the process of admissions would be completed by August.

The Cabinet sub-committee meeting on June 28 will take a final view on the seat sharing and fee structure, he said.