HC upholds govt order on BPharm seat matrix, fees

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday upheld the government's order of fixing the seat matrix and the fee structure for private pharmacy colleges in the state. Hearing a batch of petitions filed by pharmacy colleges, Justice L Narayanaswamy, rejecting the contentions of the pharmacy colleges, said that there is no fault in the state government’s decision.

Petitioner colleges had contended that the seat matrix is fixed at 50:50 ratio wherein 50% of the seats are meant for government quota and the rest for management quota. The colleges had contended that when the fee was already fixed by the All India Council for Technical Education as Rs 1.5 lakh per annum, the government has fixed the fee structure at Rs 20,000 per annum for B Pharm course. They contended that the seat matrix fixed for private institutions will jeopardise the colleges as the fee structure fixed by the government is low and it would be impossible for private institutions to develop infrastructure in keeping with government guidelines. The government said that students belonging to socially and economically backward sections may not be able to affored the high fees.

The government on Monday informed the high court that a draft policy had been framed to protect the interests of RTI activists and whistleblowers in the state. Government counsel D Nagaraj submitted to the court that the relevant file was sent for approval to the chief minister as he is in charge of the Home department.  He sought two weeks’ time to inform the court about the decision taken with regard to the policy.

Umapathi S, the petitioner, has filed a contempt petition as the government has failed to frame a policy in the last three months. He cited the increasing instances of attacks on and murders of RTI activists and whistleblowers in the state. He said the government had failed to give suitable protection to these people who are under constant threat.

He said the high court took up the case of the murder of RTI activist Lingaraju after reports in the media. The court disposed of the matter, directing the government to frame a suitable policy for the protection of these persons. The petitioner has contended that despite the court issuing directions and the government giving an undertaking to frame a policy, no steps have been taken till date. A division bench comprising Justice Jayant Patel and Justice S Sujatha adjourned the hearing for two weeks.