Wednesday, February 23 2005 14:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka today (Feb 23, 2005) assured students and parents that it would evolve a mechanism to ensure smooth admission process for professional courses during the 2005-06 academic.

"The problems that students encountered during last year would not allowed to repeat this year," Chief Minister N Dharam Singh said while talking to the press in Bangalore after chairing a high level meeting on the CET (Common Entrance Test) issue.

The meeting attended by Higher Education Minister D Manjunath, Primary and Secondary Education Minister R Ramalinga Reddy and Water Resources Minister Mallikarjun Kharge discussed the steps to be initiated for trouble-free admissions, he said.

Singh said that the State would spell out its plan of action after hearing the verdict of the Supreme Court, which has already begun a batch of petitions on fixing of seat quota and fee structure to professional courses in private colleges.

Refusing to share details of today's meeting deliberations, Singh said, "It would be subjudice to reveal as the Apex Court is likely to deliver its judgement by second week of March."

Singh said that the Government would also invite representatives of private college managements for a dialogue.

He said that the Union Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh has promised to enact a Central legislation prescribing guidelines for admissions and levy of fee.

Singh expressed optimism that the legislation would be passed in the coming budget session of the parliament.

Karnataka has notified that CET would conduct exams during first week of May for selecting students for admission to professional courses.

Unlike last year, the CET would hold test only for Karnataka students and non-Karnataka students cannot appear for the exam.

The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMED-K) has also announced plans to conduct a separate test for selection of students.

The State Government was yet to take a decision on reconstituting the Admission Regulation and Fee Fixation committees, which would be headed by sitting or retired judges for the coming academic year.

Under the Supreme Court order it is mandatory for appointing these committees.