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Karnataka Govt seeks 50:50 for medical seats

TOI Dec 3, 2005

BANGALORE: The state government has sought a seat-sharing ratio of 50:50 in proposed Central legislation mooted by the Union health ministry for medical and dental courses.

In its response to the draft Bill— the Private Medical Educational Institutions Bill (Regulation of admission and fixation of fee) Bill 2005— Karnataka has said 50 per cent of the seats could be filled by private colleges through a common entrance test and a centralised counselling.

The seat-sharing will be applicable to both minority and non-minority institutions.

It has also suggested that 15 per cent of the seats could be given to non-resident Indian students from the management quota.

The suggestions, vetted by the law department, has also asked the health ministry to work out a single piece legislation for all professional courses, instead of two ministries proposing separate legislations;one for medical and other for dental courses.

On its part the state has drafted its own legislation and is willing to implement it if the central legislation does not come on time.

As suggested in the draft Bill, Karnataka has supported the ministry's proposal to set up a Fee Regulatory Committee headed by a former V-C of a Central or a state university or an eminent academician to fix the fee, with a term of 3 years in office.