Tamil Nadu: Sri Muthukumaran Medical College moves Madras HC for inclusion in MBBS seat matrix

The chairperson of Sri Muthukumaran Educational Trust, Gomathi Ammal filed a petition before Justice G Jayachandran after the medical college was in soup over its affiliation being withheld by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, hindering the MBBS college's inclusion in the seat matrix.

Chennai: Seeking legal intervention to be included in the seat matrix for the current academic year, Sri Muthukumaran Medical College Hospital and Research Institute has recently filed a petition with the Madras High Court.

The chairperson of Sri Muthukumaran Educational Trust, Gomathi Ammal filed a petition before Justice G Jayachandran after the medical college was in soup over its affiliation being withheld by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, hindering the MBBS college's inclusion in the seat matrix.

Seat matrix is given to the state selection committee by the state university and the state in no case can admit candidates without the university's nod. Presently, the state selection committee has put out the seat matrix for 23 government colleges, three state-run self-financing colleges and a dozen self-financing MBBS colleges.

However, the Muthukumaran medical college's affiliation was put on hold by the state university citing serious infrastructural flaws and inadequate patients in its teaching hospital. Examining the report submitted by the inspection committee, the university did not grant permission to the medical college and it was not included in the list of eligible MBBS college to admit candidates for the academic year 2019-20.

This came after the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) had issued a notice for locking, sealing and demolition of more than 14 buildings including seven blocks. The seven blocks house a library, hostels and residential quarters for doctors and nurses. In an absence of these buildings, the medical college will not be able to clear the requirements laid down by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for obtaining affiliation from the university.

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Thereafter, the university wrote to the State Health Department and the Directorate of Medical Education apprising about the flaw. On the other hand, the MBBS college management wrote a letter to the director of medical education stating that they have made other arrangements for the seven buildings.

As per the MCI regulations, the admission process should be completed by August 31. Noting the seriousness, the medical college has now approached the High Court. In its petition, the MBBS college has reportedly contended that the infrastructure concerned could continue to be used. Besides, the management had presented a list of alternative buildings to the inspection committee designated by the university. It further added that adequate building facilities with significant approvals would be constructed within three months.

"Suitable alternative buildings approved by the CMDA have been located for all the buildings which are under lock, seal and facing demolition notice of the CMDA, and they were also inspected by the inspection team," the petitioner told TOI.

The case has been adjourned for the hearing to August 19.

In case the university shows a green flag, 150 more seats will be added to the seat matrix for the year 2019-20. Last counselling for allotment of MBBS seats by the selection committee was held on August 8.