The Hindu : Karnataka News : St. John's College asked to allow govt. quota

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

St. John's College asked to allow govt. quota

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI), which runs St. John's Medical College in Bangalore, to admit students under government quota to post-graduate courses in medicine.

Last week, the college had challenged the fee structure and seat matrix for post-graduate medical and dental courses.

In its petition, the CBCI said that St. John's was a religious minority institution and had its own admission and fee structure. It was not a capitation fee-based institution.

A case was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Government's interference in the affairs of minority religious institutions. It said the case was still pending and a decision was awaited.

The CBCI said that on April 15, 2005, the Government issued a notification and modified it on April 20, fixing the fee structure and seat matrix for post-graduate courses.

The CBCI challenged the notification and said that it was illegal and arbitrary. Moreover, the Supreme Court verdict on minority religious institutions was still awaited and the Government could not fix the fees or seat matrix till the court gave its verdict.

It said the parameters for arriving at the seat matrix and fees were flawed and illogical. It urged the court to stay the operation of the two notifications.

It also urged the court to direct the respondents to refrain from interfering with the admission made by the medical college for 2005-06.

When the matter came up today, the Government advocate said students selected for the post-graduate courses under the government quota were being turned away by the college.

Adjourned

A Division Bench, comprising Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.C. Kabbin, directed the college to admit students under government quote and adjourned further hearing on the matter.

The Bench also adjourned another petition by the Karnataka Private Medical Colleges' Association and the Karnataka Private Dental Colleges' Association challenging the fee structure and admission matrix.

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