Punjab HC skeptical about the government dealing with 2 private medical colleges

Chandigarh:There seems to be lot of skepticism about the role played by the state government in the existing 50 vacant seats in MM Medical College, and the filling up of another 100 at the SGT Medical College, Gurgaon, overlooking the supreme court directions on NEET National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).

In both the cases the government seems to have openly flouted the Supreme Court directives . In the first case, that of MM Medical Institute, Mullana, the college allegedly deliberately chose to stay away from the three successive counselling sessions, leading to the current vacancies; and the government presently, taking a pleading stance in court, in favour of the college for filling up of the same.

In the second case that of SGT Medical College, Gurgaon,it has been alleged that the government allowedthe institute to stay out of the combined counselling, giving it a free hand in filling its 100 seats,in ignoring the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). The government alignment in this case, is already under critical viewing of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

It is believed, according to the Supreme Court’s August directive, all colleges, including deemed were to fill vacancies based on combined counselling, as per the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). However, the government choose to overlook all parent student complaints about MM Medical not following instructions and keeping seats vacant. This it was interpreted by the aggrieved, as being done to give them away at higher price, under the Management quota. The few who were given admissions, paid a hefty Rs. 13.5 lac as against the Rs. 7 Lac fixed by the state.

The governments subtle support to both the colleges, in seat manipulations is under the questioning eye of the state’s apex body.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, Judge, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia has asked the government to explain “the reasons which prevailed with the state to take such a decision (allowing it to skip the combined counselling), which prima facie is discriminatory”.

It was specifically stated in the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that all medical admissions for the academic year 2016-17, to medical, dental and deemed colleges were to be determined on the basis of NEET rankings; through combined counselling, as per the SC order. It was observed by the court, that a special exception was made in the case of the SGT Medical College, on grounds of it coming under a ‘private university,’ which is not specifically mentioned in the letter.

At the same time, in the case of a petition filed in Madhya Pradesh , the supreme court had declared invalid- all admissions done outside of combined counselling; instructing the government to re conduct all the admissions through centralized counselling.

The Haryana Government once again ignored the verdict by saying that it was relevant to Madhya Pradesh alone, when the Department of Medical Education and Research suggested cancellation of all Mullana College admissions .