Technical Education Department has received 295 applications for new senior colleges
Though the state government is all set to sanction nearly
125 new senior colleges across the state, the question being asked is if they have
that much demand. Last year, nearly 1 lakh seats across the state had no takers.
The higher and technical education department has received 295 applications for
new senior colleges. The state government has completed its scrutiny and is waiting
for the Supreme Court nod to go ahead. Nearly 125 applicants are expected to get
the approval.
However, officials and experts in the field firmly believe that the approval was
to woo political leaderships which are in control of most of the institutions applying
for new colleges.
"Most of the seats in the colleges go unfilled as the rural areas witness more supply
than the demand. It's an open secret that the sanction is always politically motivated,"
said a sitting MLC.
The approval for new colleges is delayed due to legal battle. The high court recently
maintained that there was no need of state government sanction for new colleges
and that university affiliation was sufficient to start a new college.
The higher and technical education department was all set to issue a list of new
colleges before the deadline of June 15, when the HC ruling came in. The state government
has moved apex court seeking stay to the HC ruling. But even if the government gets
the stay, the last day of sanction, June 15, is over. "We are trying to extend the
deadline to July 15. This would help us in starting the colleges from this academic
year," said an official from the higher and technical education department.
Courtesy: DNA India