Some engineering colleges affiliated with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) have started ‘blocking seats’ by accepting a token payment. This practice has started after the vagueness over when colleges will resume the session.

Having received complaints about this from students, VTU has asked the college to discontinue this ‘unhealthy practice’.

AS Deshpande, the registrar of VTU, has issued a notice stating that the university has received complaints that a few colleges are collecting money to block seats for admission. As the II PU results have not yet been announced, the notice urged the involved colleges to “stop such practices which cause inconvenience to students.”

The CET is due to be held on 30 and 31 July, while the undergraduate entrance test of COMEDK is scheduled for 1 August. The II PU evaluation is still ongoing, with results expected to be out by the end of this month.

After the CET results are declared, the government will announce the counselling dates for CET. It is only after this that admissions can begin.

A II PU student complained that there is absolutely no clarity on whether classes will begin in 2020 or not, so it is unjust for colleges to start collecting fees. Such a practice would hurt the chances of deserving and meritorious students.

However, a college management representative said that engineering colleges are going through a financial crisis. The token money would bring in much-needed funds to meet expenses.

Meanwhile, the VTU registrar has sent another notice to colleges ordering them not to deduct their employees’ salaries.