MP: 21 seats still lie vacant in MBBS and BDS courses

Bhopal:The pandemonium created due to court litigation, change in rules, miscommunication, fee hikes, overriding of state government and judicial orders have all resulted in the state medical colleges ending up with 21 vacant MBBS and BDS seats. 6 lie vacant in Government Medical Colleges and 15 in private medical institutions.

The series of chaotic events were initiated when the Supreme court passed an order making of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), the basis for all medical admissions, across the country. Immediately followed the President's Ordinance, declaring all admission to state government colleges to be done through a common entrance test, conducted by the government.

A Supreme Court directive made further additions, stating all India Quota seats lying vacant, on surrender to the state, to be filled through NEET. While these changes were on, confusion galore prevailed over admission processes to be followed for deemed and private medical colleges; with the state governments insisting on governing both the processes. The deemed were not to sit quiet on this state encroachment on their right to conduct admissions. They went knocking the judicial door, only to come back with judicial permission to be allowed to conduct their own admissions. The aggrieved, in this case being the parent body decided to have their voices heard in court, next. They raised a call for admissions being conducted by the state alone. This time, the apex judicial authority gave a verdict that admissions conducted till September 16, to continue as they were, and only remaining vacant seats to be filled under state supervision.

The entire 2016 had litigation happening, with state governments, deemed universities and private college managements at the judicial doorstep asking for admission liberties. On the other hand, parents and students too were in court rooms with admission woes.The year ending saw the supreme court giving extensions to colleges beyond the September 30 deadline, in order to be over with counselling sessions for admissions. The final Oct 7 deadline was also being extended to Oct 15.

Students who had been given admission in private medical colleges, were seen seeking a change to government run institutions. However, they were unsuccessful in their attempts, as withdrawal was refused and was only to be granted at the cost of Rs. 10 lac. A price unaffordable. Disillusioned students were seen returning home; unaware of a late evening court announcement, allowing students to be given admission, without seeking of original documentation, though without granting of date extension. Result being: students back home and seats lying vacant.