ʻStudents forge documents to join MBBS underNRI quota in Puducherry collegesʼ

ʻStudents forge documents to join MBBS underNRI quota in Puducherry collegesʼ

12.11.2024 THE TIMES OF INDIA

PUDUCHERRY: Scores of students continue to forge documents to join the MBBS course under the non-resident Indian (NRI) quota in four medical colleges and hospitals, including a govt medical college and hospital, every year in the Union territory of Puducherry, alleged a section of students-parents welfare forums.

There are 130 MBBS seats under the NRI quota for the academic year 2024-25 in the four colleges. The candidates applying under the quota must submit ʻattested NRI/NRI sponsorshipʼ letters from the embassies/high commissions in the countries where the NRI sponsors are currently employed. In addition, the NRIsponsored candidates must submit sworn affidavits establishing a first-degree relationship with their sponsors.

The Centralized Admission Committee (Centac), which admits students to various courses, including medicine, in the Union territory, received a series of complaints that students joined the MBBS course under the NRI quota by furnishing forged documents.

Following this, Centac convener Cheryl Ann Gerardine Shivan commenced verification of the documents submitted by NRI candidates. “…it was observed that the name of certain consular staff (the signing authority) in the consulate in Dubai was spelt differently on several different applications, and his signature was almost not uniform. It was then decided to forward all NRI embassy and sponsorship certificates to the various Missions/Posts in the different countries (for verification),” said the convener in a complaint lodged at Lawspet police station.

The Centac convenor said the Missions/Posts concerned have started responding to the queries raised by Centac and ascertaining the genuineness of the certificates and documents.

“For those certificates determined as ʻforgedʼ, the Missions/Posts themselves have recommended that necessary action as deemed fit may be taken,” she said. The Centac convenor said the committee had not received any reply from a few other Missions/Posts and hence approached the Union external affairs ministry to expedite the process. “The ministry responded immediately and took up the matter (with the Missions/Posts concerned),” she said.

Lawspet police booked the 44 students under sections 336 (3) (forgery) and 340 (2) (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine) of BNS and began investigations.