Some private educational institutes in the state offering MBBS, BDS, and BE courses have found a new way to block government quota seats in their institutes, which is very difficult to trace and prove.
Under the new seat-blocking technique, these colleges are admitting students who have been allotted seats by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) without collecting any original records of the students, which is compulsory under admission rules prescribed by the government. On the record, the institutes as well as candidates confirm that they have joined the college and course allotted by the KEA. But in reality these seats are sold to those who want seats under management quota by paying hefty amounts.
The KEA, which has now traced several such cheating cases, has written to the state government recommending stringent action against all those who are involved in this scam. The KEA has also warned the colleges that it will lodge a complaint with apex bodies such as AICTE, MCI, and DCI etc. What KEA officials have found is that some colleges admit students without their qualifying marks sheets and other documents. This is part of the conspiracy between the colleges and students to block government quota seats. After the admission process is over, the candidate drops out and the seat is filled under the management quota for which the fee is much higher.
According to the sources medical and engineering seats in prestigious colleges are blocked in this manner. “Any student studying in another course/college can be used to block seats. There is no problem for the students as they get their original documents and assured money on the spot. As colleges issue an admission letter no one can trace such cases easily,” said an officer.
When contacted, KEA executive director Rashmi V. said KEA will propose a new system from next year to stop this. “We will request the state government to provide a unique number in line with UID to all students who pass out from II PUC and central data base. This number will be made compulsory at the time of seat selection. It will help the KEA to track the students,” she said.