New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the private colleges in Maharashtra to appoint "eligible and qualified" regular principals in the next six months.

The court said that no further extension would be given thereafter.

"We must endeavor to improve the standards of academic institutions and the students as well," said the vacation bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice R.M. Lodha and comprising Justice A.K. Patnaik.

With this, the court also permitted these colleges to admit students for the academic year 2010-11. IANS