Waiting for shift -249 Chintpurni Medical college students at wits end

Punjab: The Chintpurni Medical College students are still in waiting for the government to shift them to the promised new destination colleges. Chintpurni stopped taking classes completely a month ago, however, clarity on the promised future shift is yet to surface. This leaves students at the receiving end.

The deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for shifting of Chintpurni students expired on November 8.

A protest demonstration by the Chintpurni Medical College students and their parents was organized outside the apex education regulator's(MCI) office in New Delhi, earlier this month.

The pre-final exam of the 2014 batch of Chintpurni is still due. According to a student of the college " since the third year, classes of clinical subjects have not been held. We are now losing previous time and are behind our peers in other medical colleges.Lack of infrastructure to study is hurting us."

"The MCI must be sensitive to our plight. We will require extra classes as it is. We must be shifted at the earliest," another student added. "We have paid a heavy fee of Rs 20 lakh for the management quota and Rs 6 lakh for the government quota. Yet, outwards are sitting at home for the past month. The students should be shifted," a parent said.

Meanwhile, sources told the HT that the Oversight Committee had issued an approval circular related to the student shift. The government proposal on the same to the Council had been received by the OC in November.

Dr Sushil Garg, President, Chintpurni Medical College Parents' Association said, "We filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to get a contempt of court order. None of the parties appeared on December 8, the next date of hearing is December 18."

He added, "Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has issued several assurances that the interest of students would be protected at all costs. Yet, a month after the college shut down, students are still at home."