New Delhi: It is now a relief for all non-Himachali students who want to take admission in BEd courses at various private colleges in the state. A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justices P.P. Naolekar and D.K. Jain yesterday directed the state government to admit these students under the provision of 15 per cent all-India quota.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court had earlier gave its verdict saying that the implementation of the 15 per cent Central quota would only start from 2008-09 academic session.

However, a student and the HP Promotion Society had moved to the apex court, stating that the deferred implementation by one year would cause them the loss of a full academic session.

While hearing the order to the petition filed by the student, the apex court said that the HP University should issue advertisement for admission to B.Ed in national dailies by October 11. The implementation of 15 per cent all-India quota should start from the current academic year itself, the two-judge bench added.

The Supreme Court further said that the selected candidates should be allocated the colleges by November 2nd so that the session could start soon after this.

In Himachal Pradesh, the combined intake of students in 65 private colleges, Dharamsala's government college and HP University is 7,525. Hence about 1,128 students from outside Himachal Pradesh will be benefited by the order.

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