Thursday, Apr 22, 2010
Chennai: After ascertaining that violations in admissions were committed, the Medical Council of India has asked the Chennai Medical College and Research Centre, Tiruchi, to discharge 150 students who were admitted during 2009-2010 for MBBS course.
MCI's charge is that recognition was granted to the college as an affiliate of Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical Varsity, but the students were admitted on the basis of entrance exams conducted by SRM University. According to sources in SRM, the first essentiality certificate was given to start a college in Tiruchi under SRM University. However, when varsity officials approached the University Grants Commission for making the Tiruchi unit a constituent college, they were told to get MCI approval first. MCI refused to conduct inspections unless the college was affiliated to a varsity.

SRM officials sought and obtained affiliation from Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University and MCI inspection followed. Recognition was granted. However, the initial letter from the Union Health Ministry erroneously mentioned the college as affiliated to SRM University.

Since there were a number of court cases to be settled and with the deadline for filling seats (September 30) drawing to a close, the students were enrolled after admission tests by SRM. The mandatory quota of 65 per cent seats could not be surrendered to the government pool.

Meanwhile, SRM tried to go back to the UGC to make Chennai Medical College its constituent. The move was frustrated as the Human Resource Development Ministry had introduced a rule preventing off campus expansion of deemed universities.

However, in its communiqué, MCI has said that while examining the records of admission (between September 16 and 30) of Chennai Medical College, it had found that the students had been admitted one-and-a-half months after the Centre issued a corrigendum to its first order, establishing the college as a constituent of Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical Varsity.

While Chennai Medical College retains its recognition as a constituent of Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR University, the State government's demand is that 65 per cent of the 150 seats (97) be surrendered this year. In addition, this year, 49 additional seats will have to be surrendered to the State quota to make up for not giving up seats last year, the remaining 48 seats in addition to the 97 (65 per cent) for academic year 2011 – 2012.

Sources at Chennai Medical College say they have agreed to this and subsequent admissions will be done as per this formula.

However, the future of the 150 students who have been asked to be discharged is worrying college and varsity officials, parents and students alike.