Kochi: Even as the functioning of the self-financing engineering colleges comes under scrutiny over the death of student Jishnu of Nehru College,
Thiruvilwamala, the fate of 277 students admitted in 12 SF colleges under NRI quota last year hangs in the balance.
Justice James committee refused to approve their admissions as, despite a warning in 2015, they failed to secure the AICTE approval. They are AWH College, Kozhikode; Cochin College, Malappuram; Indira Gandhi Institute for Women, Ernakulam; Musaliar College, Pathanamthitta, SCMS College, Karukutty; Sree Ernakulathappan College, Ernakulam; St Thomas College, Chengannur and Kannur; UKF College, Kollam; Valia Koonambaikulathamma College, Kollam; Younus College, Thalachira, Kottarakkara and Younus Institute, Kannanallur, Kollam.
The Kerala Self-Financing Engineering College Management Association (KSFECMA) has approached the Kerala High Court against the panel verdict. Despite the setback, the colleges are putting up these students for the first semester exams now underway.
“They can take the exam, but the final decision on approving or disapproving their candidature will depend on the HC verdict,” KTU PVC Dr Abdul Rahman told DC on Thursday.
New Admission Supervisory Committee chairman Justice Rajendra Babu said a few colleges had approached him to lift the ban. “The issue is now sub-judice, and we are waiting for the court decision,” he told DC adding Justice James had given enough time for them, after the warning in 2015.
“The KSFECMA had given an undertaking in 2015 that they would secure the approval of AICTE for NRI admissions in 2016 and the admission of those colleges which failed to do so was cancelled,” said Justice James.
