CPS PG Diploma: High Court Relief to MBBS doctor, directs authorities to hold Counselling

94% of the specialist seats are lying vacant and still, the candidates were rejected at the date of counselling. The doctor contended that the committee failed to give any explanation as to why he was rejected.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has ordered the Central Admission Committee for PG diploma courses at the Mumbai- based College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) to conduct counselling of a doctor, who was rejected despite being eligible.

This direction came in view of a petition filed by Dr Sandeep Gaur, an MBBS doctor, who moved the High court after being rejected by the Central Admission Committee for PG diploma courses at CPS, even though he was qualified to pursue the course.

It was submitted that 94% of the specialist seats are lying vacant and still, the candidates were rejected at the date of counselling. The doctor contended that the committee failed to give any explanation as to why he was rejected.

Dr Gaur had applied for a PG diploma course for the academic year 2018. Last month, he got called to the counselling session after his name appeared on the merit list. Accordingly, he reached Gandhinagar for an interview.

He presented before the court that he and many more like him from other states were called for counselling on December 4 by the CPS Admission Committee. However, they were then asked to leave without any counselling and no reason was given to the candidates for the same. He was told that he would not be called for the counselling session.

Seeking a reason for the said “decision”, he wrote an email to the authorities, but no reply came back. Disappointed, Dr Gaur approached the HC.

In his petition, the doctor pointed out the number of seats that are lying vacant even though the candidates, who are eligible for those seats are available. “If the data published by various government agencies are seen, 94% of specialist seats are lying vacant. The respondents are wasting 104 PG specialists’ seats despite the fact that candidates for the same are available,” the petition stated.

During the hearing session, the counsel appearing on behalf of the doctor submitted that admissions at CPS are now governed by the NEET PG score. Only 48 candidates appeared for admissions to PG diploma courses and as many as 104 seats remained vacant after the counselling session. Dr Gaur fulfilled all the eligibility criteria for admission and was yet turned away.

It was noted that CPS has a rule of giving first preference to students, who clear classes X, XII and their MBBS from Mumbai. The second preference is to those who cleared classes X and XII in Gujarat. If seats remain vacant, candidates from other states are considered.

TOI reports that after hearing the case, honourable Justice J B Pardiwala ordered the authorities to conduct Dr Gaur’s counselling and take a decision on his admission according to their rules.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the issue of the doctor shortage in Gujarat state. To address this problem, the state government had taken various initiatives in order to fill up the vacancies but to no avail, the recruitment process drew a lot of controversies, leaving the state medical colleges high and dry.

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