Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences: MBBS Practical Exam of 24 final year students to be re-evaluated on Court orders

Bengaluru: A re-evaluation of general medicine-clinical practical external examination answer papers of 24 final year MBBS students of the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) was ordered by the Karnataka High Court on Thursday. The re-evaluation was ordered as the court had observed that the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has not maintained them as per norms.

The re-evaluation order was passed by Justice Vineeth Kothari on the basis of petitions filed by Nancy and 23 students, who had failed to clear this subject in the January MBBS Final year exam reported the HINDU.

The grievance of the students was that the assessment of their answer sheet was made for only one case of the three answered and consolidated for 160 marks, which was contrary to the ordinance governing the MBBS course for the clinical exam meant to be for 160 marks. The students had to be assessed for 3 cases. The long case carrying an assessment for 80 marks, while the 2 short ones were for 40 marks each the writ submitted explained.

The court on perusal of the examination sheets of the failed candidates given to the court in sealed covers, found that though there was a tabulation sheet of viva voce for 40 marks, the tabulation for the clinical examination/practical examination answer book contained the examination made in respect of only one patient and the marks assigned to a total of 160 marks.

This, therefore, prima facie indicated that the clinical examination assessment has not been divided into one “long case” and two “short cases” as required under the ordinance, the court stated.

The court also observed that the original documents for verifying the compilation of marks awarded by the two evaluators or four-panel experts for viva voce for the papers of these students were also not available on record and the petitioners declared failed.

The court further directed that the re-evaluation/re-examination be conducted strictly in accordance with rules by maintaining the original record of the two evaluators for the long and short case studies undertaken by the students, already on record.

It also directed that the university/college have the experts conduct a fresh viva -voce test and record their individual marks on their independent sheets for each of the students. After awarding of individual marks, the compilation marks awarded by them may be made reported Deccan Herald.

The Court further instructed the RGUHS and HIMS to complete the process of re-evaluation, including viva voce, as per the ordinance in three weeks time and submit the results to the court by May 29. The court also clarified that this order was not to be taken as a model for other similar cases.