Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences Students loses MBBS admissions, Students cry foul

Vijayawada: The NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) in a significant move is disallowing 100 medical students of Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences (FIMS), Kadappa, from appearing for the annual exam on the grounds that the college secured their admissions against the norms of the Medical Council of India.

The affected students along with their parents staged a protest in the city, on Thursday. They even met with the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas to express their grievance.

It is believed that these students got admission for the 2015-16 batch in September, after participating in the third and final counselling. However, the college had not been granted permission to conduct the first and second counselling, either from the MCI or the High Court. For the third and final round of counselling, the college managed to secure an interim order from the High Court.

With the high Court interim order in hand, the college management went ahead with the counselling process and gave admissions to students under category A and B along with those of the NRI quota. Since the MCI had not given clearance, the admissions were cancelled by the Council later; leaving the students at a loose end.

The bungling in the admission process by the college authorities came into limelight after the High Court’s dismissal of the case on 23rd April, this year. Worst still the Supreme Court stood by the decision of the High Court.

“The college management is wholly responsible for the ongoing chaos. At the time of counselling, the NTRUHS has approved our admissions and now the same university cancelled our admissions. Post High Court orders, the college management has refused to refund our fees. It kept us in the dark. In the name of signing anti-ragging forms, the college management obtained our signatures on blank papers,” said P Imran, a student at Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences.

In another case of Abhinay a resident of Nellore, it was revealed that his parents sold their agricultural land to pay Rs. thirty lac to the college, for admission. The parents allege that no receipt was issued to them for it.

Students also allege that the college has collected sums ranging between Rs.30 lac and Rs. 75 lac for granting admission to medical aspirants . The students were allowed to attend classes only after making the complete payment they added.

The Chief Minister lent their woes his ear, promising to get them admissions in other colleges.He also asked officials of the concerned departments to speed up the process.

The Vice Chancellor of NTRUHS is holding meetings with both the MCI officials and college managements to bring about a truce, he added.

Meanwhile, the student protests in Kadapa have strengthened with the student bodies condemning the management’s indifference to their plight. Some student protesters are demanding for the arrest of the principal, action against the college management and justice for the affected medical students.