Its admission time. And aided colleges make a killing in the name of providing quality education.

In spite of the Supreme Court ruling that capitation was a mark of exploiting education on May 3 last, colleges here demand up to one lakh from students who have scored less marks for arts and science courses, thereby forcing them to opt for an ‘undesired’ course.

In the case of some courses where the demand is high, the colleges have already introduced its ‘relative courses’ in the self-financing section of the institution and admit students after collecting an exorbitant fee.

“B.Com is the most sought after course. These colleges introduce B.Com with different allied subjects and admit students as they cannot provide the regular course to all the applicants,” an activist said and added that some colleges had even auctioned seats to highest bidders.

While this has been the case with some colleges, few others even allow advance booking of seats even before the results are out. “People pay advance up to Rs. 10,000 and block the seat. Most of the students who get low marks prefer such options and the institutions thus get more money,” another activist claimed.

The pathetic fact is that it demoralizes students who are denied admission on capitation grounds. “I want to pursue commerce. But am forced to study some other subject. Am still undecided,” laments a student.

Parents are the disgruntled lot. They are clueless on the practice of colleges issuing applications even after ‘getting booking orders’ from affluent parents.