The association -- a body of private engineering colleges in the State -- will plead its case referring to a SC judgement that suggested State Governments should revise rules pertaining to the first year admission and tuition fees in private engineering colleges every three years. A resolution to move the Supreme Court was passed during a meeting of the association in Pune. The meeting, chaired by MAPEI president Professor Vishwanath Karad, arrived at the decision after observing that despite several reminders, the Maharashtra Government had failed to implement the guideline given by the court for six years.

``In the State Assembly in 1993, it was mentioned that the expenditure incurred on each engineering student was Rs34,000. That means the cost of teaching two students comes to Rs 68,000. But in the present system of one payment and one free seat, the collective tuition fees of two students comes to just Rs 36,000'', said a press note issued by Karad.

Considering this burden on private engineering colleges, the Supreme Court had authorised colleges to fill up the non-resident Indian quota, which comprises five per cent of the total seats. ``We want this to be increased to 15 per cent.''

He said according to the court guideline, after every three years, the admission rules should be revised and tuition fees adjusted according to the expenditure incurred on individual students.