Give 30% seats to woman diploma holders in BE, BTech: Bombay HC

There is good news for women diploma holders who want to take admissions to the second year bachelor of engineering and bachelor of technology courses, as the Bombay high court has directed the Technical Education Board to reserve 30% of around 18,000 seats for women from this academic year.

While hearing a petition filed by a Satara-based student, the high court on Wednesday, directed the state to implement its policy of earmarking 30% seats for women diploma-holders seeking admission to second year BE or BTech courses.

Snehal Misal (18), who completed her Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in July 2011, moved the court after she found that there were no seats reserved for women for direct admissions to the second year BE/B-Tech courses.

Advocate Machhindra Patil, appearing for Misal, argued that 30% seats are reserved for women seeking admission to first year of BE or BTech courses, but there was no reservation for women diploma-holder seeking direct admissions to second year.

Engineering diploma-holders are given admissions directly to second year of BE or BTech courses, and nearly 17,900 — 30% seats are earmarked for them. He further added: “No seats were earmarked for girls, although in April 2000, the government had adopted the policy of 30% reservation for women in professional education.”

Government counsel, Sandip Shinde argued that the government resolution of April 2000 was not be applicable for the diploma-holders.

However, division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice RP Sondurbaldota, directed the state government to reserve 30 % seats for women in case of diploma-holders too.