New Delhi: Terming the admission process to higher education in the State as "chaotic", Karnataka today (Aug 23, 2004) pleaded for a Central legislation this year to govern admissions and fee structure in private professional colleges in the country.

"The only permanent solution is a Central legislation, which should be enacted this year itself so that the admission process for the next academic session proceeds smoothly and the chaotic situation prevailing this year is not repeated," an all party delegation from Karnataka led by Chief Minister N Dharam Singh told HRD (Human Resource and Development) Minister Arjun Singh.

Observing that the State Government has been trying to implement the directions of the Supreme Court, the delegation, in a memorandum, said this has resulted in endless litigation on every issue.

"The time for admissions is almost over, particularly for medical and dental college admissions. But uncertainty continues to prevail," the memorandum said.

It said the State Government has decided that 75 per cent of the seats should be filled by local students through CET.

As such, the ratio of 75:25 between the Government and private managements for allocation of seats should be protected by the proposed legislation, it said.

The private colleges may be required to fill their merit-based seats on the basis of State CET and State's centralised counselling, it said.

Some of the leaders suggested that the Centre bring an ordinance for the purpose.

Promising to do whatever possible, Arjun Singh said he would take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.