Bangalore: Karnataka Government today (Jul 29, 2004) decided to introduce a bill to enact legislation to fix seat quota and fee structure in professional colleges, brushing aside the Opposition BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) threat to oppose it.

An all party meet convened by the Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to find a way out of the contentious fee structure issue today, the second one to come up since yesterday (Jul 28, 2004), ended in failure as Opposition and Government shared diametrically opposite views.

The Opposition parties refused to climb down from its demand that 2002-03 fee structure be given effect to or extend subsidies to students selected for 75 per cent of seats under its quota in the event of charging higher fees.

However, Government refused to hold out any assurance on fee subsidy, as it involved heavy financial burden.

With this the Government and the Opposition parties were all set to embark on a collision course on an issue that concerns the career of thousands of students.

While Minister for Revenue M P Prakash told the press that the Government would introduce the bill by this evening and push for its passage, Opposition BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said that the party would oppose if its demand for 2002-03 fee structure was not incorporated in the proposed legislation.

Prakash said there was a clear unanimity on 75:25 seat quota and the Government would opt for fee slabs suggested by Justice Murgod Committee set up under the direction of Supreme Court.

Since Murgod has resigned the Government prefers an application before the apex Court seeking clarifications, he said.

Prakash said that the Government has asked the Vice-Chancellors of Universities to direct managements of private colleges, which fall under their jurisdiction to suspend the admission process.

He said that the Government has also written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) seeking to extend the July 31 deadline for completing the admission process for medical courses by a month.

Prakash said if the Government accepts the Opposition demand, it might have to bear the burden of Rs 59 crore annually over a period of five years.

"The Government can extend subsidies only to some extent," he maintained.

Yediyurappa addressing a press conference after the all-party meeting charged that the Government was hand in glove with private managements.

He said the Opposition would not accept any free structure other than the quantum charged during 2002-03 or the Government should subsidise fee for all students admitted under its quota.

Yediyurappa said the Government can enhance seat intake in its four colleges from the current 450 to at least 1,000 to help poor students.