SC issues notices to medical colleges MCI, UGC, HRD on PG Medical Admission in Puducherry

Puducherry: Private medical universities in the Union Territory of Puducherry and others have been issued notices by the Supreme Court. The SC notices seek reasons from the universities as to why they have failed to admit students into postgraduate medical programs in their institutions, despite being allotted seats by the Centralised Admission Committee (Centac) after counseling and a Medical Council of India (MCI) direction.

Having passed a direction on August 14, while hearing a petition by a section of meritorious students, the judicial body also sent notices to the Union Human Resources Development Ministry, MCI, University Grants' Commission, Secretary (health), Puducherry Government, Director (health and family welfare services) and Puducherry’s Governor's Secretary.

A further hearing on September 1 was fixed.

Having launched a campaign christened 'Admission Nyayam' , the students also initiated legal proceedings to secure seats allotted to them by Centac in private institutions. The colleges claimed that the four colleges affiliated to the deemed universities and three private medical colleges had denied admission to 95 students, who had otherwise, been allotted seats by the Centac. The students made allegations that these institutions had admitted students illegally, as none of them had been granted admission by the Centac. They also that student who had not even attended counseling held by Centac had been granted admission.

The students further arguing their case said the Puducherry government did not follow the directions laid down by the Supreme Court (in Dar Us Slam Vs MCI case) while sending the merit list.

The government they said had forwarded names of all the 1,844 candidates who had attended counseling, instead of forwarding the meritorious names numbering 940 for admissions to students reports TOI.

On July 24, the Council reprimanded the four colleges affiliated to the deemed and 3 private medical colleges, giving them directions to dispel the 95 post graduates granted medical admission, without rules & regulations being followed.

S Savitha, Assistant Secretary, MCI, addressing the 7 institutions individually in written communiqués provide the list of candidates who did not attend the common counseling, but were granted seats in the colleges.

Some of them were offered post-graduate specialty courses that they had not selected during their counseling sessions; this was proved in the list, the minister furnished.

The four colleges affiliated to the deemed university are Arupadai Veedu Medical College, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Vinayaga Mission Medical College, and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences. The three private medical colleges on the list are Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital and Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences and Sri Venkateswara Medical College and Research Institute.