Diploma Students of Polytechnic Colleges have moved the Bombay High Court
Diploma students of polytechnic colleges have moved the Bombay
high court challenging the newly introduced caste-based reservations for direct
entry into the second year of the four-year degree course from this academic year.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Girish Godbole was hearing
petitions filled by Mansi Mane and eight other students of Walchand College of Engineering,
Sangli and other colleges in the region. They challenged the introduction of two
rules by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) providing reservation for
backward classes and the physically handicapped. Their petition contends that due
to these new rules, the availability of seats for them has decreased by 50%.
After taking their SSC exams from Kolhapur, the students completed the three-year
diploma course sanctioned by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The students advocate Uday Warunjikar argued that reservations deprive such students
of a chance to enroll into a college of their choice. If they want to introduce
caste-based admissions, let them do it next year, said Warunjikar. He added that
all the petitioners were distinction holders.
The judges observed that the petitioners can always approach the AICTE
to increase seats for lateral entry. They directed the petitioners to make the AICTE
a party in the case and adjourned the matter till July 25, 2011.
Courtesy: Times of India
