Karnataka Admission Scam: Siddaramaiah Govt Halts Engineering Seat Hike Amid Admission Scam In Karnataka

Karnataka govt freezes seat hike at two Bengaluru engineering colleges amid 2024 admission scam probe; AICTE nod denied NOC as legal review continues.

BMS, New Horizon Colleges Face Seat Freeze Over Admission Scam

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In a decisive move, the Karnataka government has put the brakes on engineering seat expansion proposals from two prominent private institutions — BMS College of Engineering and New Horizon College of Engineering — both of which are under the scanner for their alleged involvement in a high-profile seat blocking scam during the 2024-25 academic year.

Despite receiving approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to increase their intake by a combined total of 1,020 engineering seats for the 2025-26 academic cycle, the colleges have hit a roadblock. The state government has yet to issue the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC), effectively freezing the expansion.

The controversy stems from a complaint filed by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which prompted the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against BMS College, New Horizon College, and Akash College of Engineering. The case centers on allegations of "seat blocking" — a practice that disrupts fair admissions by holding seats without genuine intent to fill them. Investigations have since progressed, with the police submitting a charge sheet to the court.

Adding to the colleges' woes, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted raids at all three institutions in connection with the ongoing probe. The searches have intensified scrutiny over the alleged manipulation of engineering admissions.

Amid this storm, BMS College had applied for the addition of 120 seats in Computer Science, while New Horizon College sought approval for 240 seats in Artificial Intelligence and 660 more in Computer Science. Though AICTE granted approval based on online applications and supporting documentation, the final green light rests with the state — a process now stalled due to legal concerns.

Officials from the Department of Technical Education clarified that AICTE and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) assess proposals based on infrastructure and institutional compliance. “AICTE and VTU are not involved in criminal investigations or legal matters related to scams. The state government, however, must consider all aspects before issuing an NOC,” a senior official explained.

Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, speaking to The Hindu, confirmed that the state is closely examining the police charge sheet. “We are reviewing the findings and will take legal advice before deciding on the seat enhancement applications submitted by these colleges,” he stated.

The minister also raised broader concerns about the unchecked rise in Computer Science and related courses, especially in urban centers. “Private institutions are overly focused on increasing CS seats, leading to a saturation of engineering colleges in tier-1 cities. This trend could result in higher unemployment rates among graduates,” he cautioned.

To address the imbalance, the government is considering new legislation modeled after Telangana’s regulatory approach. “We are working on a law to rein in indiscriminate seat expansion and ensure more balanced growth in technical education,” Dr. Sudhakar added.