The lists are coming directly from the ministers and also via the Gujarat University. Education Minister Bharat Barot alone has reportedly sent more than 100 names in the past one week. The total number of such political favourites is said to be over 200.

University sources said even though they were not entertaining requests from the more deserving cases, they were unable to say no to the ministers.

Furthermore, these `select' students all want admission in top colleges, like H L College, H A College which have a very high cut-off percentage. But the ministers are sending names of students who have scored ``not more than 60 per cent, and even repeaters, withthree or four mark sheets attached to their forms,'' says a University official. Most of these students haven't even filled up the University admission form.

A University official said that the college managements would have to be coaxed into admitting these students. ``The Vice-Chancellor or the Pro-Vice-Chancellor will have to talk to colleges,'' he said. Vice-Chancellor S B Vora said the University would have to admit these students. Bharot was not available for comment despite many attempts to contact him.

College principals are peeved at the University's refusal to say `no' to the politicians. ``This dual standard makes nonsense of the admission system,'' says a principal. He adds, ``We based our admissions on merits, now we have to accept these students sent, unbelievably, by the Education Minister himself.''

Another principal rued that admission to such students would affect the college's standards, but he had no choice. ``There is no protection for the principals,'' he said. The ministers' listshave already increased the size of an average class in top colleges to 150, against the University prescribed limit of 120. The UGC norm is 100.

The National Students' Union of India has asked Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari, who is also the Chancellor, to look into the matter. NSUI has alleged that while many deserving students had not got admission, the Education Minister had been sending lists of his favourites to colleges.