HYDERABAD: The row between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over conducting several common entrance tests, including Eamcet, has taken a new turn. Now, the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) wants to conduct the exam for both the States if it remains a common entrance.
“We are ready to conduct Eamcet if AP agrees. We are the competent authority to conduct the entrace for both the States,” said a senior official of TSCHE. “However, we prefer a separate Eamcet,” he added.
Citing the absence of a common authority to conduct exams for both the States, TSCHE opted to conduct the common entrance tests like ICET, PECET, Ed-CET, LawCET and ECET separately and claimed itself as the competent authority to do so under section 75 of the AP Reorganisation Act.
But, APSCHE reportedly insisted for common exams in view of its students losing seats under open category in Telangana’s colleges. If separate entrance exams are held, they can apply for only 15 per cent of the total seats in TS colleges which are allotted to non-local students. AP argued that conducting separate exams amounts to violation of the AP Reorganisation Act, which mandates common admissions for both the States for 10 years. The same has been pointed out by AP for Intermediate exams as well. “Soon we are going to discuss this with HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao,” said Prof L Venugopal Reddy, Chairman, APSCHE.
While both the States are standing firm, the dilemma over CET continues. If everything works as per the regular schedule, notifications for Eamcet for next academic year was supposed to be out by now. But even after forming the separate Intermediate Boards for both the States, there is no clarity on conducting the exam.
A final decision is likely by December 20. It is learnt that officials from the higher education councils of TS and AP will hold a meeting to iron out the issue. “Our aim is to release the Eamcet schedule by end of this month,” said an official of TSCHE.