Protests staged at GMCH Nagpur office against admission of students without valid caste certificate

Maharashtra: A protest was staged outside the GMCH Nagupr Dean’s office by local organization Mulniwasi Adivasi Hakka Sangharsh Mahasangh recently. The prime reason cited for protests is allegedly giving admission to some students in the medical college; without authenticating the validity of their caste certificate.

The association alleged that during admission these students promised to produce their certificates later, however have failed to do so. Such a situation means a loss of seats to deserving candidates under the other reserved category students.

"In the last three years, over 40 students who don't have a caste certificate have managed to occupy reserved category seats at GMCH. The same students might be attending the second or third year, getting all the privileges a reserved category student deserves," said organization president Raje Tekam. The organization is now planning a meeting with CM Deevendra Fadnavis to discuss the issue.

The staged demonstration has led to a short disruption in the admission procedure at the medical college. The dean was not in his office at the time of the protests, so the delegation had a meeting with Dr Manoj Jiwtode, the coordinator for admissions to the medical college

After Jiwtode discussed the issue with higher authorities, the delegation was assured that hereafter, the college will not accept admissions unless the candidate furnishes a valid caste certificate, a source said to TOI.

In common situations like this the students are required to apply for certificate while entering class 11^th, so that they have their documents ready for admissions on time. However, many students only apply for the certificate when the admission process is close to the start.

So, the medical college authorities in general apply for a pro forma for such students, so that the students have the convenience of submitting the forms later-not necessarily at the time of applying to the college. The students are required to submit the valid certificate when admission process begins

Tekam said, "There are students who fill the pro forma claiming that they belong to a reserved category. Later, by means of bribes, the same students get admission without showing the certificate."

The organization has demanded that the pro forma should be eliminated from the process. Tekam said, "The authority should strictly refuse admissions to candidates who come without a caste certificate. College authorities should strictly check the certificates who have already filled the pro forma before the admission round begins."