Punjab: Joint counselling for MBBS, BDS courses declared by Govt

Chandigarh: Punjab’s notification on joint counselling for MBBS and BDS courses has resulted in Bathinda based deemed private university’s Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences, Amritsar-based Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana,loosing authority to hold separate councelling for under graduate sessions.

Last week's rule notification allots 85% state quota medical & dental seats in all private and government medical, dental institutes & deemed universities to be conducted by Faridkot-based Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). These admissions are to be based on National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET)-UG merit, held all over the country , on May 7.

According to Arvind Goyal,the NEET trainer, this would result in the process getting streamlined, student friendly and transparent.

It would also bring an end to the earlier arbitary harrassment faced by students at the hands of private institutions and arbitary rules followed by them, at the time of admissions.

“With combined counselling, state domicile students seeking admission will apply with a single agency for admissions,” he added.

The state's admission process has received a setback, due to delayed NEET results, in the face of the Madras High Court's stay. The stay came over their declaration on a plea stating that NEET question papers for vernacular languages were not the same as that of English. The result date is now likely to be after June 12 hearing of the Supreme Court, in the case. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has moved the apex court against the stay, reports HT.

A Patiala based parent felt that legal issues needed to be sorted out,at the earliest,as the counselling and admission process will otherwise be delayed further, resulting in student stress. The CBSE had earlier notified June 8, as the date for NEET results to be out.