Christian Medical College Ludhiana refuses to release matrix of PG seats; counselling stalemate continues

Bathinda: The Department of Medical Education and Research, Punjab (DMER), has not been able to take a decision on commencing counselling in the state, as Christian Medical College Ludhiana, (CMC), at an all college meet, on Wednesday, declined participation. This it did by refusing to handover the matrix of the number of seats available with the college for different categories. The matrix of PG seats in all medical and dental colleges is necessary to start the counselling.

The State's counselling as per the Supreme Court and Medical Council of India's designated time schedule was to commence from April 4. The counselling is to be held to fill 500 MS, MD and MDS seats, in 15 dental and medical colleges in the state.

However, the Christian Medical College has not provided the number of seats it has in Master of Surgery (MS) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. The reason for this dissension is the college wanting to conduct its own private counselling, for its post graduate seats. The reason given for it is that the procedure of its counselling varies from that undertaken by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), revealed sources.

Despite having made its posture clear on the issue of counselling, the CMC has not met with a positive response from the concerned authorities. The Punjab Government turned down the demand, leading to theCollege moving the Supreme Court, on the matter. The next date of hearing in the case is April 20.

Claiming to follow a different counselling procedure, the CMC at the meeting held told officials, that the college matrix of seats would be made available after the Supreme Court decision in this regard. So far it will be conducting its own counselling for all UG and PG courses.

Though a stay in the matter has not been ordered by the Supreme Court, the BFUHS is unable to undertake the counselling process in the state, for want of a complete list of the total PG seats, in the state.

"We are trying to sort out the issue as the counselling has to be conducted as per the Supreme Court and MCI given schedule," Director, DRME, Punjab, Dr Sujata Shama told the Tribune.

The apex court's directive schedules all selected students to report to their allocated colleges by April 22; and the academic session to commence from May 1.

BFUHS was to have earlier commenced counselling on March 18 . It was for the first time that the University of Health Sciences was to carry out a combined counselling process, on the basis of NEET-2017. This was to be done to fill up state quota seats in all medical colleges, deemed and private universities of the state.