Hyderabad: A day before the commencement of engineering and pharmacy counselling, JNTU withdrew the affiliation of three engineering colleges making them unfit to take part in the process. 

    Nearly 250 students currently studying in these colleges will be accommodated in other colleges under JNTU, AP State Council of Higher Education said in its orders. 

    The affiliations were withdrawn to New India College of Engineering and Technology, Gollapally, Chevella; Shahjan College of Engineering and Technology, Ramannaguda, Chevella and Nova Institute of Technological Research for Women, Hayathnagar. 

    Lack of infrastructure in these colleges was said to be the reason behind the JNTU action. While JNTU had issued notices to these colleges, they had not taken steps to rectify the problem, officials said. However, if the colleges clear the shortcomings before the commencement of the second phase of counselling they could be included in the list, officials said. 

    Meanwhile, in the counselling which will begin on Sunday, a total of 684 colleges will take part offering 2,63,665 seats. Out of these, 663 are nonminority and 21 are minority colleges. As many as 8,070 seats are available in minority colleges and the rest in non-minority ones, officials said. 

    As many as 284 pharmacy colleges will also be participating in counselling. Eight-five engineering colleges which run evening classes (second shift) and awaiting government nod are not included in this round of counselling. 

    As part of web counselling, certificate verification will begin from Sunday at 50 centres across the state. On the first two days of verification, only the certificates of sports, NCC and Children of Army Professionals (CAP) quotas will be verified, said Jayaprakash Rao, chairman, APSCHE.

                   For all the other candidates, certificate verification will be held from August 31 to September 10. Students will be able to opt for the colleges of their choice online, from Sept. 2 till Sept. 19. Any revision in the choice of colleges can be made on Sept. 20 and 21. By Sept. 25 students will be allotted colleges based on their ranks. There will also be a second phase of counselling, officials said.