Shocking: Vyapam-like scam revealed in Gujarat medical colleges

Ahmedabad: Corruption in Gujarat's education system seems to be reaching a pinnacle of sorts. An RTI filed with the Gujarat University and the Medical Council of India reveals the existence of a vyapam like scam in Gujarat Medical Colleges.

TOI reports that Government Medical Colleges in Gujarat have been found to have awarded degrees to more than 100 students, who have not cleared the examination, the RTI reveals. The complaint about this occurrence has been sent to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s office, as well as to the State Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani’s office.

900 students appeared for a PG entrance examination, for the 300 seats available in BJ Medical College and NHL Medical College, in January 2015. Of the ones who appeared, only 200 cleared the test, leaving a 100 seats vacant. It was at this stage that it is alleged that corrupt practices gained ground in the admission process. The health department doctors and officials allegedly got together and doled out favours to their acquaintances, by granting admission to their kids.

The MCI guidelines stipulate that entrants who fail or fail to appear for the test cannot be granted admission in PG medical courses. Breaching rules, false mark sheets were sent to the MCI office to help star kids get admissions. RTI information reveals some of the students did not even appear for the test, and records project them as having passed the exam. Other instances have also come to light where false caste certificates were submitted to misguide the MCI.

The students involved in this admission seeking racket come from families of doctors and government officials.

Another startling fact that the RTI brings to light is the MCI records showing higher marks for students who otherwise scored poorly in the exam. A student with 41% marks was shown to have scored 53% in the MCI records. Several other similar cases were detected

J P Gupta, Health Commissioner, Gujarat said, "State Commissioner received the complaint a week ago. We will have to check old records from the university. We will scrutinize the complaint and record both and then we will decide what steps to take," told the TOI.