The new rule states that students who have KT's in not more than four (odd semester) or six (even semester) subjects can move on to the next semester unlike in the old rule, under which a student is allowed to go for the next semester with unlimited backlogs provided he/she clears all the odd semesters.

Though the rule was introduced this year, it is made compulsory only from the next academic year (1998-99), maintained University of Mumbai Vice Chancellor Dr Snehalata S Deshmukh. ``The current crop of students were given the option of availing either the new or old rule,'' she observed.

The varsity's dean of technical department, Prof S Sundaram maintains that if the students were not given option, their respective college principals should take up the issue.