Alleged Seat Blocking in MBBS Admissions: RGUHS withholds First year Result of 212 MBBS students

Bengaluru: Sensing the involvement of 212 first year MBBS students in a suspected-seat blocking conspiracy during the admission process last year, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has withheld the first year result of these medicos.

The issue of seat blocking during medical counselling is an issue that crops up every year. Seat Blocking is an act by high ranking candidates first opting for a particular seat in a round and then not joining the same, making the seat available for the next round. It is alleged that many medical colleges collude with the high ranking candidates to indulge in seat blocking so that popular MBBS seats can be made available for lesser deserving candidates.

Also Read: Seat Blocking in PG Medical Counselling: MCC issues warning to Candidates and medical colleges

Similar case was alleged lat year as well wherein a "suspected seat-blocking" came to light for UG medical admissions. It was alleged that 212 medical students had secured seats surrendered by meritorious students. The meritorious students reportedly surrendered seats to private medical colleges instead of the Karnataka Examinations Authority and joined premier medical colleges elsewhere in the country. The MBBS students who surrendered their seats after the initial mop-up round was within the rank limit of 15,000.

On receiving a tip-off, the RGUHS administration signalled the Government as the admissions of these MBBS students were not approved by the government.

The issue was deliberated at the government level and a committee was constituted by then minister for Medical Education, E Tukaram to further probe the matter and submit a detailed report. Deccan Herald reports that the minister himself was convinced that this was a clear case of "seat blocking" and accordingly wrote in his official note and ordered a probe.

Confirmation of the entire matter was given by RGUHS vice-chancellor Dr Sachidanand to Deccan Herald, that came after these 212 MBBS students were allowed to appear for the first year exam after government's nod pending an enquiry. RGUHS has now written to the state government seeking further directions.

Besides the "beneficiaries" of the surrendered seats, strict action is also going to be taken against the "benefactor" students who surrendered their seats during the counselling sessions.

"The authorities shall consider this as seat blocking and write to the Medical Council of India (MCI) urging it to cancel the admissions of those who had surrendered their seats in Karnataka and took admissions elsewhere in the country," the minister's remark noted.

Commenting on the issue, a senior official from the Medical Education Department informed Deccan Herald, "This has happened because of the confusion, as the consensual agreement between the government and colleges last year allowed students to surrender seats directly to the colleges. However, this year, we have changed it and asked the students to surrender seats to the medical education department."

The fate of 212 students is subject to final recommendations of the committee considering the future of students.