All eyes will be on the Bombay High Court today as it announces its verdict on the implementation of the 70:30 district quota. With FYJC admissions at stake, colleges and students feel it is advisable to have the quota implemented only from next year.
A government resolution passed in 2003 asked colleges to follow the 70:30 per cent quota rule while admitting students in FYJC.

The rule says 70 per cent seats must be reserved for students from the district where the college is located and the remaining for those from outside. Pratap Sarnaik, an NCP corporator from Thane, had filed a PIL challenging this formula after the first list for FYJC admissions was out. On July 9, the Bombay High Court stayed the admission process till July 14.

The admission process has already been completed in more than 75 per cent of colleges and its immediate implementation would not benefit students. City colleges expect today's HC decision to be fair for the education department and parents. Anila Pillai, vice principal of H R College at Churchgate, said, "If HC orders to implement 70:30 formula now, it would be unfair to students falling in the fourth list. We hope the proposed rule be applied only next year to give an equal chance to everyone."

Bina Gole, principal of Swami Vivekanand High School and Junior College, said, "The 70:30 formula might further hamper the current admission process. This quota will create more problems for students from Thane as the number of good colleges there are lesser than in Mumbai."

Datta Bhandarkar, vice-principal of R D National College in Vile Parle, said, "The problem mainly persists in Thane. In our college, a student from another district is solely selected on the basis of merit."