Working out policy for post-grad med exam, state tells HC

Working out policy for post-grad med exam, state tells HC

Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  10.07.2020

The state government told the Bombay high court on Thursday that it is formulating a policy to conduct final-year exams for post graduation in medicine — the MD and MS courses.

Assistant government pleader Jyoti Chavan sought time before a bench of Justices Shahrukh Kathawalla and V G Bisht, saying it involves preparation of schedule and taking every safety measure. “Ultimately, it concerns resident doctors and the examiners who are on Covid duty,” she said. Chavan added that meetings are being held on the issue and she would inform the court on July 14.

The court was hearing a petition by Dr Nishant Gobbur seeking directions to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences to declare the dates and conduct final-year exams for post-graduate medical students. The exams were postponed twice due to the coronovirus pandemic.

Gobbur, who hails from Akalkot in Solapur district, is pursuing an MS degree in general surgery at Seth G S Medical College, Parel. In the entrance test for DM/MCh courses conducted by Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, he stood second in all-India ranking in the general category for neurosurgery out of three coveted seats. On June 30, PGIMER issued him a provisional appointment/ admission letter and granted time to join latest by July 6. An eligibility criterion mandates that a candidate must have passed MD/MS or its equivalent qualification recognised by Medical Council of India.

Gobbur’s advocate, Vishwanath Patil, submitted that there is urgency in the matter as PGIMER has set a deadline for him to join the course.

The judges posted the matter for July14 and directed that, meanwhile, “all steps taken by respondents [MUHS and PGIMER, Chandigarh] shall be subject to orders passed by the court”.