Mon Dec 16 17:16:43 UTC 2024: **Karnataka High Court Stays Action Against Engineering College in Seat-Blocking Case**
Bengaluru, December 16, 2024 – The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted action against BMS College of Engineering in connection with a police investigation into alleged “seat-blocking” in engineering admissions. The court issued an interim order on a petition filed by the college challenging an FIR registered by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) in November.
The KEA alleges that unauthorized access to candidate passwords and secret keys resulted in some candidates withdrawing their college choices, freeing up seats for other applicants. The college is accused of benefiting from this “seat-blocking scam.”
BMS College denies the allegations, stating that of its 2,760 seats, 1,100 were filled through management quota and 1,282 were offered through KEA. 108 KEA-allocated seats remained unfilled despite the college’s requests. The college argues that the lack of opportunity to fill these vacant seats after the October 23rd admission deadline imposed by the Supreme Court is the reason for the vacancies, not any manipulative actions.
While the court has directed the college to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation, it has prohibited any coercive measures against the institution for the time being.
First Piper 