CET set to re-start BArch after one year

BHUBANESWAR: Students who want to pursue their career in archeology in the state can once again take the OJEE route, as it is going to conduct admission in the bachelor in archeology course in state-run College of Engineering and Technology (CET) for 2013-14 academic session, after a gap of one year.

Two colleges – government-run CET in Bhubaneswar and private college Piloo Mody College of Architecture in Cuttack – offer BArch course in the state with 40 and 200 seats respectively. This year about 10,000 students have applied through OJEE to take admission in the course.

“We are hopeful that this year we will be able to take students in BArch course in CET and the students will take admission through OJEE. After the OJEE results are declared in the first week of June, counseling for the course will begin,” said OJEE secretary Priyabrata Sahu.

The admission was postponed last year following a stay order by Odisha high court and the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court. The admission was stalled due to a disagreement between the two colleges over qualifying entrance tests. While the private college has been taking students for 200 seats from the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA), the government-run CET wanted to take students from OJEE as well.

“A large number of students were deprived of an admission to the government college, which is offering the course at a low price. For admission to the pending seats, the government is planning to approach the court soon and is hopeful that the matter will be solved before the counseling begins,” a senior the OJEE officer said.

Authorities of Piloo Mody College of Architecture refused comment in the matter.