Monday, June 6 2005 14:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: In an attempt to mollify the private professional colleges Karnataka Government today (Jun 6, 2005) offered them a new seat sharing formula in the ratio of 55:45 in medical and dental courses for the year 2005-06.

The cabinet sub-committee meeting chaired by the Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to determine the seat sharing formula has decided to give five per cent of seats more to private medical and dental colleges during this year compared to the last year's (2004) quota of 60:40 ratio.

In the event of the private colleges working under the umbrella of COMED-K (Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental colleges in Karnataka) consent to the new quota; they would have powers to admit students to 45 per cent of the approved intake and the Government to the remaining 55 per cent of seats.

Briefing the press after the meeting, Minister for Water Resources, Mallikarjun Kharge who is also one of the members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee said that the decision would be communicated to COMED-K and expressed optimism that it would accept the new compromise formula on seat sharing.

The private college managements have been insisting on a 50:50 ratio seat sharing formula.

He said that the 65:35 ratio seat sharing quota agreed upon for admission to engineering courses last year, would hold good for the coming academic year too.

Kharge said the Government and private colleges would file a joint affidavit before the Supreme Court on the seat sharing formula, if need arises.