Doctors’ admission to PG courses quashed

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031210/ncr1.htm

Doctors’ admission to PG courses quashed
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, December 9
The admission of Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) doctors to various post-graduate courses like MD/MS/PG Diplomas in the PT B D Sharma Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Science (PGDMS) for the year 2003 has been quashed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

These doctors had failed to qualify in the entrance test conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University since they could not secure 50 per cent marks in the entrance test which was the minimum essential as per the Medical Council of India regulations.

However, the condition was relaxed and those securing up to 30 per cent marks were admitted in August 2003 in a hush-hush manner. The second counselling for their admission was announced only through an advertisement in a Hindi daily giving only 24 hours notice and the counselling was held on a Sunday. No interview letters were sent to the candidates.

The notice given was so short that many qualified candidates could not reach at the time of counselling and interview.

Although many eyebrows were raised, both regarding relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks as well as not giving due notice for second counselling, and strong protest by the open category candidates, the Chairman of the interview board went ahead with counselling and admitted HCMS doctors who had secured up to 30 per cent marks in the entrance test.

As per the regulations of the Medical Council of India, no candidate who scores less than 50 per cent marks (40 per cent in case of SC/ST) in the entrance test can be admitted to any MD/MS/PG Diploma course and these regulations are binding and had been published in the prospectus of Maharshi Dayanand University.

The open category candidates, who had secured more than 50 per cent marks challenged this decision in the High Court which upheld their plea and quashed the admissions of those HCMS doctors who had secured less than 50 per cent marks in the entrance test as being violative of the MCI regulations. The admissions to various courses in the PGIMS, it appears, have been jinxed in this year. In the MBBS/BDS admissions, the candidates with higher merit were left out and those with lower merit admitted.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a recounselling and admissions to be made in accordance with the merit list. Even the admissions done during recounselling, in pursuance of the High Court orders, have been challenged again in the High Court.

Even in course like B.Sc Nursing, a candidate with higher merit, who was left out, had to knock at the door of the courts.

The candidates of ophthalmic assistant were asked to appear in a written test although as per prospectus, their admission was to be made on the basis of 10 plus 2 merit. When the selected candidates took the matter to the court and pleaded with the highest executive authority of PGIMs as party by name, the administration conceded their plea and cancelled the written test.