SC issues notice to private medical institutions

Bosco Dominique| 

TNN | Updated: Aug 21, 2017, 12:00 AM IST

Cleared

Puducherry: The Supreme Court has issued notices to private medical institutions in the Union territory of Puducherry and others seeking their replies for failing to admit students into postgraduate medical programmes in their institutions despite being allotted seats by the Centralized admission committee (Centac) after counselling and a direction by the Medical council of India (MCI).

The court, which passed the direction on August 14 while hearing a petition by a section of meritorious students, also sent notices to the Union human resources development ministry, MCI, University grants' commission, secretary (health) of Puducherry government, director (health and family welfare services) and Puducherry lt governor's secretary. The court posted the case for further hearing on September 1.

The students launched a campaign christened 'Admission Nyayam' and initiated legal proceedings to secure seats allotted to them by Centac in private institutions. They said the four colleges affiliated to the deemed universities and three private medical colleges denied admission to 95 students, who were allotted seats by the Centac. They alleged that these institutions illegally admitted students, who were not allotted seats by the Centac and also admitted students, who did not even attend counselling held by Centac.

The students argued that 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 forwarded all the candidates (1,844), who attended counselling, instead of forwarding the meritorious students (940) to the institutions for admissions.

The MCI on July 24 pulled up the four colleges affiliated to deemed universities and three private medical colleges and directed them to discharge 95 postgraduate medical students, who were admitted without following the prescribed rules and regulations.

MCI assistant secretary S Savitha in individual letters addressed to the seven institutions furnished the lists of students, who did not attend common counselling and yet were offered seats in the colleges. She also furnished the lists of students, who were offered postgraduate specialties that the students did not select during the common counselling.

The four colleges affiliated to the deemed university are Arupadai Veedu medical college, Vinayaga Mission medical college, Mahatma Gandhi medical college and research institute and Sri Lakshmi Narayana institute of medical sciences. The three private medical colleges are Sri Manakula Vinayagar medical college and hospital, Sri Venkateswara medical college and research institute and Pondicherry institute of medical sciences.