Medical Admissions: Kiren Bedi writes to MCI on irregularities by govt

Puducherry: The Medical Council of India(MCI), has received a complaint from Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor, Kiran Bedi stating that it has been wrongly guided by the Union Territory government on irregularity issues related to admissions in deemed universities and private affiliated colleges, during the academic session of 2016-17.

The Governor’s letter dated 12^th July, 2017 denies that her office has the file which the government claims to have sent to it for action against the erring medical colleges

“The fact, however, remains that the file in question is yet to reach the portals of the office of the Lt Governor,” Bedi in her letter addressed to MCI’s president Dr Jayshree Pranshankar Mehta, states.

A recent report In Hindu states that through a letter dated 27^th June 2017, the state government informed the Section Officer, MCI informed that the cabinet had submitted a file to the LG’s office, “for approval for taking up the matter with higher regulatory authorities viz the Medical Council of India, Ministry of Family and Welfare, University Grant Commission etc.”

However, denying this, Governor Bedi has asked the Council, in its capacity of education regulator take action against the colleges.

The MCI’s Secretary, Reena Nayyar also confirmed having received the governor’s complaint and said the allegations were being looked into.

“If found genuine, action will be taken against the colleges as per the MCI act,” Nayyar told Hindu.

The V Narayanswamy led Congress Government has been at loggerheads with the Lt Governor ever since her appointment last year, over several issues. She has in no uncertain manner made it explicitly clear to the government that as administrator Union territory, she has right to administrative powers in the state.

Irregularity in admissions seems to be a major point of differences between her and the government.

Of the 1200 state medical seats, 767 were to be filled on the basis of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scores by September 30, 2016, the last date given by the Supreme Court and the MCI.

“The government-appointed Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) empowered to conduct counselling allegedly colluded with the colleges and allowed them to violate all admission norms. It permitted the admission process to be continued till October 7, 2016,” M Narayanassamy, President, Puducherry UT All CENTAC Students Parents Association, said.

“After the state government received a barrage of complaints from candidates regarding malpractices in admission, it appointed a Permanent Admission Committee (PAC), headed by a retired high court judge Chitra Venkatraman to get the whole issue investigated,” he added.

Despite the committee finding that the norms were openly flouted by the colleges, the government, it is believed is delaying it endlessly.

“However, the government is dragging its feet on taking action against the colleges. The LG’s letter shows that the government lied to MCI. It didn’t put up any file with the LG,” a parent, added, having retrieved the LG’s letter through an RTI application, reports HT.