Bangalore: Karnataka Government today (Aug 28, 2004) said it has come to an understanding with private college managements on seat sharing and fee structure for professional engineering courses, adding that it would place before the Supreme Court its decision on September three.

"We have come to an understanding (on seat sharing and fee structure in engineering colleges). We have decided to place before the Supreme Court after taking into confidence Opposition leaders," Large and Medium Industries Minister P G R Sindhia said after the last round of talks with the management of private engineering colleges, chaired by Chief Minister Dharam Singh.

He said the Chief Minister has convened an all party meeting on Monday (Aug 23, 2004) evening to apprise the Opposition of the decision arrived by the Government with the private management.

Appealing to agitating students who have called for a State-wide bandh today, to withdraw their agitation, Sindhia said that the fees structure would be affordable to students from poor and middle class, besides ensuring that the interests of non-Karnataka students are also protected.

"Private (engineering) college managements, they have agreed to help the government this year for an affordable fee structure," he said.

"All details would be placed before the Apex court. We don't want to get into a legal wrangle when the case comes before the Supreme Court on September three," Sindhia said.

"I am very confident that this confusion will end shortly," he said.