Deadlock over MMMC admissions continues

Himachal Pradesh: The deadlock existing over 150 MBBS seats in Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC), Kumarhatti, is seeing candidates running from one end to the other for admissions. The Bharatiya Janata Party which has stood a mute spectator of violation of various acts by the university till now has decided to seek college intervention to safeguard student interests.

The government has provided the college a list of eligible students, after counselling for 75 management quota and government quota seats respectively, along with 13 NRI seats has been completed.. The college has yet to provide the students-admission.

The management of the college, which has in violation of the act, affiliated the institution to the Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical University has urged the government to raise college fee. The government overlooking the demand, has asked the college to admit students.

The State BJP President, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College today accused government of ‘wrong policies’ leading to the impasse. He sought government intervention to safeguard the interests of the students, asking the government to not hike fee, in comparison to other colleges of the state.

“Had the government shown seriousness in the matter, the issue would have been resolved and the students would not have faced such a situation”, he said, adding that due to inept handling of the issue, the future of 150 MBBS students has become uncertain.

The academic session for MBBS students for the year 2016-17 of other colleges is to begin tomorrow, while the admissions of MMMC students hangs in balance, due to the existing strife between the state government and the university.

The costs incurred in the form of fee under the 50% state quota is exorbitant; Rs. 5 lac per annum against the Rs. 60,000 in the three government run medical colleges. Parents have been asking for cuts in fee hikes, in order to ensure meritorious admissions, for state quota seats.

Condemning the attitude of the MMU, the ABVP has launched a statewide agitation starting with a protest at the MMU campus against fee hike, and deprivation of the meritorious from getting admission.

The ABVP State Convener, Professional Education, Chetan Guleria, at a meeting in Solan alleged that the MMU and state government were conniving and remaining indifferent to student and parent interests. Gulleria demanded the post of Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission to be filled immediately.