The professional colleges affiliated to the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (ComedK) have decided not to accept students selected by the Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, at least till the Supreme Court gives directions.But Advocate-General A.N. Jayaram has struck to the government’s view that all professional colleges in the state were bound by the Karnataka High Court’s interim order governing admissions, which had directed them to admit the students selected by the CET Cell. The Supreme Court has not stayed the court’s order which had interpreted the apex court’s verdict in the TMA Pai case, the Advocate-General said.ComedK president R.L. Jalappa said that since a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court was seized of the issue, which it would decide on July 22, the Consortium would wait till then. However, he said ComedK’s affiliate colleges would give CET Cell-selected students an endorsement stating the reason for not admitting them.Jalappa clarified that the Consortium was not saying it is rejecting outright admissions for CET Cell-selected students. Right now, he said, ComedK could only say that it is awaiting the apex court’s order. The Consortium comprises 35 unaided professional colleges, including 15 medical colleges.Jalappa, a senior Congress leader representing the Chikkaballapur constituency in the Lok Sabha, said he was aware of the statements from the state government saying the HC order was in force. ‘‘If the government wants to file a contempt of court case against us, let them do so. We will face it,’’ he said.But the Advocate General said if any colleges flouted the HC order, they will be doing so at their own risk. Under this order, the colleges do not have the liberty to admit or refuse to admit students on their terms. The Advocate-General did not foresee any provocation for either colleges or students to panic as the SC will decide the issue soon. Students allotted to different colleges will have time till July 25 to join colleges.
