Zee News Special: Donation in engg college admissions order of the day, shows Zee News sting operation

On one hand country’s apex court has expressed deep concerns over exploitation of parents and students by educational institutes by way of charging capitation fees, on the other malpractice refuses to end. At least this is what the sting operation conducted by Zee News’ crime and investigation team unravelled in an engineering college in UP recently. 

Stating seeking capitation fees from students as illegal and unethical, the Supreme Court had recently asked the Centre to make laws to put an end to such practices which deny admission to meritorious financially poor students in those institutions.

The court had observed that quality of education has gone down in private colleges which are turning into students financing institutions. It said that government agencies need to introspect on the issue to bring proper legislation.

“Collection of large amount by way of capitation fee running into crores of rupees for MBBS and post-graduate seats, exorbitant fee, donation etc, by many of such self- financing institutions, have kept the meritorious financially poor students away from those institutions,” the SC said.

The Zee News sting operation was conducted after the investigation team received complaints of corrupt practices at GL Bajaj College in UP. When approached by a Zee News reporter, who pretended to be a candidate seeking admission in the College’s electronic and telecommunication engineering wing, a college receptionist told the reporter that enrolment was possible only after payment of donations. During the discussion, the receptionist added donations would differ based on streams students opt for. She also claimed ranking of the colleges too matters while giving admissions.

How the system works?
It is not the colleges which seek donations directly. A middleman/consultant does it for them. When the receptionist introduced the reporter concerned to a consultant, he said he had a ‘tie-up’ with the college to get students for MBA, MCA and B Tech admitted there. The consultant, who identified himself as Vivek, boasted to the team of having already admitted 23 students to B Tech and 50 for MBA courses.

As good as retail market
The practice allows one to bargain. The consultant here offered the Zee News Crime Files reporter admission at ‘lower rate’ compared to his counterparts. Besides, if you have hefty money, one need not clear entrance tests to get admission, the consultant told the sting operation reporter.

When the reporter insisted on surety of admission on payment of money, the consultant introduced the reporter to a senior college official. He, however, refrained from revealing the candidate’s name.

During the discussion with the official, the consultants persuaded the reporter-candidate, who claimed to be hailing from Lucknow, to secure room at the college hostel. The official responds saying he will look into it and asks the reporter to see him after three days.

The reporter though did not approach the college later as the aim of the operation was only to unearth ill practices going on at educational institutes.

Meanwhile, when informed about black money collected under the pretext of donation, officials from UP government and income tax department assured stricter action. The college authorities too promised action if of their employees is found seeking bribe.