CHENNAI: Despite the Supreme Court judgments on the issue, private self-financing engineering colleges are bent on dodging the issue of the admission process to management quota seats. They seem to be taking it easy on this score, hoping that neither the Government nor the Permanent Committee would initiate steps to implement or enforce the orders.

Basically, it pertains to (1) conduct of a Common Entrance Test and (2) adopting a Single-Window System (SWS) for admissions, even to the management quota seats. Till now, the private colleges have been filling up their quota of seats at will, though a CET has been conducted on their behalf by a consortium/ association, to honour the apex court's order. But the concept of SWS and the fee structure do not seem to apply to them, at least for the management quota seats.

In fact, reports from most parts of the State point to admissions already being made for the four-year B.E. or B.Tech courses in many of these colleges. That is why, the meeting of the Permanent Committee headed by Justice Subramanian, a former judge of the Madras High Court, on April 18 assumes importance.

Known for his clear and pointed views on admission issues, in keeping with the Supreme Court orders, Mr. Justice Subramanian is expected to spell out the process of admissions to these colleges.

Students, as well as their parents, want the Anna University to take on the responsibility of conducting a CET for the private colleges in case they are not prepared to go by the TNPCEE. It would be best if all colleges agree to adopt the TNPCEE as the base for all admissions so that the students could be saved of the trouble of taking another CET.

Similarly, if need be, the University could be entrusted with the task of conducting the SWS for admission to the management quota seats as well, after it completes the admissions to the Government quota.

Another area that analysts and academics want the Subramanian committee to deal with relates to the minority institutions. According to Salem-based analyst Jayaprakash Gandhi, there are over 70 minority engineering institutions in the State, with a capacity of 24,500 seats.

"Assuming they surrender 30 per cent of these seats to the Government pool, another 17,000 seats have to be filled up in their quota. The past record indicates that the minority institutions have admitted up to 40 per cent non-minority students — which means 7,000 seats in the management quota. It has to be made clear that all these admissions must be based on merit, a CET and the rule of reservations must be followed. If only minority students are admitted, it can be on the basis of CET and merit. Reservation will apply only for admission of non-minority students," he reasons.

With so many grey areas remaining to be ironed out, students, parents and academics alike expect the Government and the two Permanent Committees — admissions and fee structure — to not only enunciate a clear policy, but also ensure its enforcement.

Regulation assumes importance in the present scenario, they feel.

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