Calcutta: Education minister Partha Chatterjee visited three city colleges on Monday to take stock of the complaints related to admission to undergraduate courses.

The visit to Seth Anandram Jaipuria College, Maharaja Srischandra College and Surendranath College came days after four students in two colleges were arrested on the charge of demanding or extorting money from students or guardians for admission to undergraduate courses.

Two of the accused are students of Maharaja Srischandra College.

Excerpts of the minister's replies to questions from reporters following his visit to the colleges

Q. What prompted you to visit the colleges?

Chatterjee: Some of the news related to admission anomalies published in newspapers are far removed from reality. They are reporting about malpractices in admission in courses that are not offered by the colleges concerned. The college where I am standing (Seth Anandram Jaipuria College) follows an admission mechanism that does not leave any scope for malpractice.

Q. A former student leader of this college has been arrested for his alleged involvement in admission-related irregularities. What about that?

Chatterjee: If there are allegations against someone, one would be arrested. But the allegations will have to be substantiated.

Q. Two student leaders of Maharaja Srischandra College have been arrested, too. More and more complaints are being lodged.

Chatterjee: I am not certifying the colleges whose students have been arrested. Just think of the fact that never before has an education minister or a chief minister visited colleges (to take stock). This did not happen in the previous (Left Front) dispensation.

I have spoken to the principals and teachers. I have told them not to bow before any pressure on admissions. I am concerned that errors are happening when students are going to cyber cafes and seeking help for filling in admission forms.

The glitches (in giving inputs) in some cases are leading to complications in admissions.

Q. Don't you think a centralised online admission system would be the most effective deterrent against irregularities?

(Chatterjee's predecessor Bratya Basu had wanted to introduce the system to bring in transparency in undergraduate admissions. He was steps away from introducing the system in June 2014 when the education portfolio went to Chatterjee. The very next month Chatterjee scrapped the system).

Chatterjee: I am not in favour of a centralised online admission system. I will stick to my stand. There is no question of any rethink.

Q. If online counselling can be held for engineering admissions, why do you think the centralised online system can't be replicated in undergraduate admissions?

Chatterjee: Because we still lack the required infrastructure. We have yet to create the infrastructure for this. Even the ongoing system is beset with problems because of inadequate infrastructure.

Q. What is your take on the fact that those who have been arrested are close to Jaya Dutta, the state president of Trinamul Chhatra Parishad? Is this not sullying the image of the party?

Chatterjee: Why are you bothered? (After a pause) If the allegations are found true, no one will be spared.

Q. Why didn't you visit the colleges and act earlier?

Chatterjee: I have visited the colleges earlier. You people did not track my visits.

Q. Scores of complaints are coming from multiple colleges. What about those allegations?

Chatterjee: Give me one allegation that has some basis. You people are playing to the gallery. If the allegations have an iota of truth, we will hand exemplary punishment to the guilty.

The chief minister is also looking into the matter. If guardians have specific allegations, they must get in touch with police.