Stage set for engineering admissions in Telangana

The Supreme Court rejected Telangana government's petition seeking an extension in counselling till October 31

The wait for engineering and medical admissions counselling in Telangana has come to an end.

The Supreme Court today rejected the Telangana government's petition seeking an extension in counselling till October 31.

While the SC in its first hearing in the matter on August 4 had stated that the counselling for admissions in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana should be completed by August 31 and directed both state governments to begin classes by September first week, today's order clearly stated it has to be done in spirit of provisions laid out in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

For holding joint Eamcet admissions in both states, the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, has entrusted the responsibility with a common higher education council, APSCHE. However, the Telangana has passed an order clearing the formation of its own higher education council recently.

The Supreme court in its order, however, did not make any direct references on the student nativity for fee reimbursement. The nativity issue has been in the limelight as the Telangana government has recently passed an official order stating students whose parents were born in the state after November 1, 1956, would not be eligible for its financial assistance.

Speaking to Business Standard, chairman of Telangana council for higher education (TSCHE) T Papi Reddy today said "the counselling would be held in accordance with the Section 95 of AP bifurcation Act" and the process would be completed by the month.

Section 95 of the AP Reorganisation Act states that the existing admission quotas in all government, private, aided and unaided institutes of higher, technical and medical education, as provided in the article 371 D, should continue for 10 years with the existing common admission process.

Though the APSCHE had kickstarted the student certificate verification for both states starting from August 7, it did not take off in Telangana as the government here did not pass the requisite orders.

Meanwhile, APSCHE chairman L Venugopala Reddy said the council will hold a meeting on August 12 to formulate the admission process in Telangana. In the council meeting tomorrow, a decision would be made on the second level of the counselling where students will choose colleges of their choice.