Jul 04 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai)

`Postpone medical counselling till Prez decision on state bill'

Chennai:    TIMES NEWS NETWORK





The State Platform for Common School System in Tamil Nadu (SPCSS) on Monday demanded the postponement of the Tamil Nadu medical counselling until there is clarity over the President's response to the bills passed by the Tamil Nadu assembly, and the reservation policy to be adopted in the all India medical counselling. The medical counselling in TN has been slated for July 17.

 

The state legislative assembly had passed the Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and BDS Courses Act 2017 and the Tamil Nadu Admission to Postgraduate Courses in Medicine and Dentistry Act 2017 unanimously and they were sent for presidential assent in February this year. The SPCSS along with TN Students-Parents Welfare Association and Health Development Association, Chennai, held a press meet at the ICSA Centre, Egmore, to voice their demands.

“We don't want the government to proceed with the counselling until we receive a reply from the President ­ whether the bills receive the nod or are rejected is up to the President, but we need an answer before going ahead with the counselling,“ said Prince Gajendra Babu, secretary of the SPCSS.

Another issue raised was the ambiguity over the reservation policy under the all-India quota counselling. Instead of the term `open competition', the term `unreserved category' has been used. Anybody can be allotted seats under open competition regardless of category and based purely on merit. After filling the open competition seats, the reserved category seats are filled, explained members. However, when the term `unreserved category' is used, it is associated with the idea that only those outside the reserved categories may participate.