Govt turns down CMC’s request for separate PG counselling
The Punjab government on Wednesday turned down Ludhiana-based Christian Medical College’s request to conduct separate counselling for admission to its postgraduate (PG) courses.
The department of medical education and research has asked the minority institute to fill its seats through joint counselling to be held for all private and government medical institutes in the state on the basis of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET)-PG merit.
Faridkot-based Baba Farid University of Health Sciences has already started the process on Tuesday, inviting applications from all qualified students by March 3.
“The CMC had requested for exemption from the department’s latest instructions on certain premises. Responding to the college on Wednesday, the department has asked the college to go with the joint counselling only,” said medical education secretary Vikas Pratap.
Reiterating the department was firm on its stand to conduct the next session’s PG admissions through joint counselling, he said the move was aimed at bringing transparency in allotment of seats in medical institutes and ensuring hassle-free admissions for students.
The medical education secretary said if students’ welfare was the prime concern for all private institutes, no one should have any problem with this transparent system, already adopted by most states on the Centre’s advisory.
The CMC, meanwhile, has not called off its scheduled counselling yet. Its website still mentions that counselling for its minority quota seats will take place on February 17 while the open category candidates have been called on February 18.
CMC director Dr Abraham G Thomas said the college was yet to receive the department's letter.
“We will take appropriate decision accordingly,” he said.
Dr Sujata Sharma, director, medical education and research, said the department will take requisite action if the CMC goes ahead with its own counselling.
Following the department’s Monday directive, Amritsarbased Sri Guru Ram Das (SGRD) Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, also a minority institute, had stopped its ongoing counselling on Tuesday.