Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 8 : CPI(M) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a government circular allowing autonomous aided and self-financing colleges to increase student intake without prior government approval.
Vijayan alleged that the Kerala government’s decision would encourage the commercialisation of higher education and benefit private college managements at the expense of students.
In a statement on Sunday, the former Chief Minister claimed that the government had relaxed the existing rules under pressure from private college managements.
Pinarayi Vijayan Questions Changes to College Seat Approval Rules
Vijayan pointed out that a circular issued by the Higher Education Department on September 11 made prior government approval mandatory for introducing new courses and increasing seats in government, aided and autonomous colleges.
However, he alleged that the government had now diluted these provisions by allowing autonomous aided and self-financing colleges to introduce unaided courses and increase seats without obtaining a government No Objection Certificate (NOC).
He described the decision as a serious concern, arguing that colleges should not be allowed to expand student intake without assessing the actual demand and following established regulatory procedures.
Allegations of Commercialisation of Higher Education
The CPI(M) leader warned that removing government oversight could create opportunities for irregularities in college admissions.
He also referred to assurances reportedly given before the Supreme Court that self-financing courses would not be introduced on a large scale in aided colleges.
Questioning the government’s decision, Vijayan asked whose interests were being protected by granting concessions to private college managements soon after their representatives met the Higher Education Minister.
Concerns Over Merit and Reservation in Admissions
Vijayan further alleged that ending annual inspections and allowing colleges to report seat increases only after completing the admission process could undermine transparency.
He claimed that the changes could create opportunities for seat-selling and bribery, affecting merit-based admissions and reservation policies.
According to him, the decision could weaken government regulation and affect the educational rights of ordinary people, particularly students from economically weaker sections.
Demand for Legal Inquiry and Withdrawal of Circular
Vijayan urged the Kerala government to immediately withdraw the circular and restore the earlier approval requirements.
He also demanded a comprehensive legal inquiry into the alleged changes to the September 11 circular, claiming that the government had diluted the existing safeguards under pressure from private college managements.
The former Chief Minister warned that allowing colleges to increase seats without proper government scrutiny could have serious consequences for transparency, affordability and equal access to higher education in Kerala.
