No HC relief for diploma holders

Students with a diploma in engineering will not find it easy to get admission in degree courses.

Students with a diploma in engineering will not find it easy to get admission in degree courses.

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The Bombay high court on Wednesday declined to grant relief to a group of students from Sangli challenging the introduction of caste-based reservation in giving diploma holders admission to second year degree courses in engineering.

A division bench comprising chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Girish Godbole noted that the lateral reservation was in accordance with constitutional provisions, and courts could not intervene.

“Approach AICTE [All India Council for Technical Education] and request them to double the seats earmarked for you,” commented the judges when counsel for the petitioner, Uday Warunjikar, pointed out that the reservation had cut down seats available to meritorious open category students by half.

The state government has introduced the caste-based reservation in the direct admission process from 2011-12. Under this, 50% degree seats in engineering courses earmarked for diploma holders will be reserved for various backward class students.

Warunjikar submitted that till last year direct admissions to second year of engineering degree courses were given strictly on the basis of merit.

Warunjikar contended that had it been known that such a policy would be introduced from this year, the students would have taken their chances directly for the degree course.

The contention failed to impress the court, which merely allowed him to add AICTE as a respondent, and adjourned further hearing on the petition till August 2.