The Karnataka Dental Colleges Association has urged the government of Karnataka to share the burden of the fees with the managements of private dental colleges by subsidising it up to 50 percent per seat for students under the government quota.

The suggestion would be a viable option instead of announcing separate fee structure for the government quota or the free seat category, which will go against the directive by the Supreme Court on the uniform fee structure, said LK Raju, president, Karnataka Dental Colleges Association.

"Categorisation of seats into government and non-government categories goes against the Supreme Court judgement as seats actually belong to the institution concerned and not to the government," he informed.

Instead of announcing a separate fee structure, the government and private managements can share the burden by subsidising costs of seats by up to 50 per cent, which will be borne by both the sides equally, he said.

If a seat costs Rs. one lakh and the college charges Rs. 50,000 for a student under the government quota, the college management and the State government should bear Rs. 25,000 each to fill-up the deficit on that seat.

The association president clarified that there was no dissent on the issue of seat sharing which is 75:25 for the government and managements. Of the government seats, 50 per cent have been set aside for the free-seats category, 15 per cent for non-resident Indians (NRIs) and 10 per cent for non-Karnataka students.

While the 50 per cent free seats will be charged a minimum fee, the remaining 25 per cent will be charged the actual fee.

The Association is of the view that the deficit in the fees for the free-seats should be borne equally by the government and the college managements. Other wise only half of the students will be penalised, as they will have to bear the cost of education for the other half of the students under the free seat category.