Bangalore: Uncertainty continued to grip the future of students aspiring for professional courses in Karnataka as the meeting held between Government and Private college managements today (Aug 20, 2004) failed to break the deadlock on the contentious fee structure issue.

The meeting convened by Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to coax the COMED-K (Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental colleges of Karnataka) representatives to accept the existing 75:25 seat sharing formula and the interim fee structure fixed by the Justice Murugod Committee ended in a failure but both agreed to meet again on August 24.

Emerging out of the meeting, Singh declared, "Confrontation is over. COMED-K Chairman R L Jalappa and others have given their suggestions. We will come to an amicable settlement at the August 24 meeting."

Officials have been asked to hold discussions with management representatives to work out fee subsidies, Singh said.

Jalappa told reporters later that the COMED-K, the consortium of medical, engineering and dental colleges of Karnataka, did not discuss the seat sharing formula, but was keen on its demand for an upward revision in fees fixed by the Murugod Committee, a matter already challenged by it in a court.

"Unless the Government gives us an average working fee, we cannot extend fee subsidy to meritorious poor, SCs, STs and backward classes", he asserted, indicating that the Rs 1.65 lakh fee suggested by the Murugod Committee for Medical seats and Rs 30,000 for engineering have to be enhanced.