Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony today said the UDF government was firm on its policy that self-financing professional colleges should follow the 50:50 formula in admission and stated that institutions not conforming to the same were free to give up the NOCs (No Objection Certificates). "I am at loss to know why certain managements are keen to spoil social peace and harmony. If they cannot conform to the government policy, they can return the noc given to them," he told reporters on his return from New Delhi after attending the chief ministers' conference.
"When NOCs were given to the managements, the government had thought that they would honour the trust reposed in them. It is unfortunate that some of them have forfeited that trust and I feel like having been deceived," he said.

The situation in Kerala is such that there is stiff resistance to allowing private self-financing colleges. The government had assured the people that they stood to benefit as two such institutions would be equal to one state-run college, with the admission norm being 50 per cent merit and 50 per cent management quota.

Two self-financing institutions had recently secured a high court order, which enhanced the management quota to 75 per cent. The government has, however, filed a revision petition in the high court.

Bureau Report