Shimla: Agitated over Himachal Pradesh University conducting counseling for only 115 MBBS seats against the government directive to hold it for 200 seats, parents and students today knocked on the chief minister’s office demanding an answer.
Students and parents who attended the counseling at the university yesterday were in for a shock as it was conducted for 65 seats at IGMC Medical College Shimla and 50 seats at Tanda Medical College, Kangra. Last year the two state colleges had admitted a batch of 100 students each.
Though the government claimed that it had received no order from Medical Council of India about down grading the state medical two colleges but the MCI website shows that there are only 115 recognized MBBS in the two institutions.
A media report quoted HPU Controller of examination, Narinder Awasthy saying, “on the government instructions, we are conducting counseling for a batch of 100 students in each college but will only give admission letter for 65 students in one and 50 in the other college.”
Decision on the remaining seats would only be taken after MCI approves them, he added.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that MCI had created unnecessary confusion and the matter would be resolved soon.
Caught in the midst of the MCI and government tussle are students who have attained meritorious positions in the AIPMT examination conducted recently but who are not being given regular admission in these government institutions.
“The objections raised by MCI are frivolous,” says Jaishree Sharma, director Medical Education, Himachal. In fact Sharma has rushed down to Delhi to clear out the imbroglio with MCI.
Additional chief secretary Vineet Chawdhry adds, “there is no bar on conducting the counseling for the enhanced admission capacity.”
Some parents, who children have been given conditional admission seats that are subject to approval by MCI, have threatened to take the matter to court.
What happens if all the hard work put in by child is wasted because the government, university or MCI is not able to timely decide about the number of seats available, said one parent but did not want to be identified.
“If the university, government or MCI is not able to clear out the uncertainty soon, we may have to approach the courts,” he said.
At IGMC, a 40 year health institution, the number of intake seats was increased from 65 to 100 four years ago just as they were doubled from 50 to 100 at Tanda Medical College, Kangra. On the other hand a private medical college in Solan district that admitted its first batch last year, has been permitted a batch of 150 seats.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
MCI has different set of standards for government backed medical colleges and private ones….. pathetic to see the same problem continue for such long ….
Pvt medical colleges are flourishing and Govt Colleges are moving at snail’s pace. Where is the problem? .In my view its lack of will power. But Govt must act and sort out asap. I wish students all the best.