Council erupts over quota seats allegation

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Council was on Tuesday rocked by allegations of some junior colleges, belonging to religious and linguistic minority communities, ‘selling’ their vacant seats. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde raised the issue after introducing a ‘calling attention motion’ in the Upper House.

Mr Munde pointed out that some colleges have not been revealing vacancies in quota seats as part of their online admission procedure. Instead, he alleged that the vacant seats are being sold to those who are able to pay for them. Jai Hind College, H.R. College and K.C. College are some of the prominent colleges named by Mr Munde in the Council.

“Directors of prominent colleges are selling quota seats illegally through agents. Moreover, officials from the education department are also involved in this act,” Mr Munde said.

Mr Munde also submitted a list of students who got admission in the last three years through quota seats. He further demanded the government to appoint a high-level inquiry on this matter.

Responding to Mr Munde, state education minister Ashish Shelar assured the Upper House that flying squads would be deployed across colleges to ensure strict compliance with admission norms in junior colleges. Mr Shelar also added that admissions granted by these colleges in the last three years would once again be verified.

Mr Shelar added that he had already spoken to principals of the three  colleges and promised to verify every name in the list. The education minister also promised to launch an inquiry if needed.