Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 18: Despite AICTE norms and approval of Jammu University, the State Government is delaying its formal nod for introduction of Lateral Entry in Jammu based Engineering Colleges thus forcing the aspirants to take admission under the scheme in Colleges at Kashmir or outside the State.
The un-necessary delay on part of the Higher Education Department in according its formal approval for Lateral Entry in JU affiliated Colleges of Engineering is depriving Jammu students with Diploma in Engineering from getting direct admission in Semester III of the Bachelor in Engineering courses here.
Even as the scheme is applicable in Kashmir based Engineering College for the last three years, the proposal for introduction of the same in JU affiliated Engineering College is gathering dust in the Department of Higher Education for the last more than one year thus reminding of alleged discriminatory and callous approach of the State Government towards Jammu.
Since only a few days are left in commencement of admissions for Semester III in the Engineering Colleges here, the Diploma Holders are likely to miss another chance of Lateral Entry and would be left with no option other than to go out of State or Kashmir for further studies.
Pertinent to mention here the Lateral Entry Scheme is meant for the Diploma Holders in Engineering, who can secure direct admission in Semester III of Bachelor in Engineering Course. Under the scheme, which is within the ambit of AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education)- the apex body governing norms for the Technical institutions in India, the Jammu based Engineering Colleges will get 20 percent supernumerary seats for admission to the students with Diploma in Engineering.
According to the sources, soon after introduction of the Lateral Entry by Kashmir University for its affiliated Colleges of Engineering since 2012, the Jammu University Council also approved the same last year and asked the Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) Jammu, which is Nodal Engineering College here, for formulation of norms to conduct admissions under the scheme.
Principal GCET, who is Dean Engineering, further forwarded the JU proposal to the Department of Higher Education in August last for a formal Government permission in this regard.
Since then, the proposal file is gathering dust in the Department of Higher Education, which is neither according its approval nor rejecting the same for the reasons best known to the persons at the helm of affairs.
As the unprecedented delay in implementation of the scheme deprived the aspirants for Lateral Entry last year and the date for commencement of admissions for Semester III is approaching nearer, the Jammu University is pressing GCET for early formulation of norms while the Nodal Engineering College is sending reminders to the Department of Higher Education awaiting formal nod on the proposal.
When contacted, the Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Sarita Chouhan said that the Government was in the process of implementing the scheme in JU affiliated colleges and a formal notification in this regard is likely to be issued soon. Since JU has also approved the scheme, which is already in the ambit of GCET, there is no problem in implementing the same, she added.
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