High Court scraps Admission, 65 postgrad Doctors lose Degrees

On Wednesday, in a strong message, the High Court of Madras scrapped the admission of 65 postgraduate medical students, who have completed their courses, in 6 Puducherry-based institutions. In 2017-18, admission to PG medical courses in Puducherry were conducted through CENTAC (centralised admission committee) based on PG-NEET marks, but these institutions admitted 65 students on their own.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh said that “Mediocrity should never be encouraged, at least in medical education.

He added that “It would be better even if some seats go unfilled & wasted rather than filling such seats with unmeritorious candidates.”

It will lead to compromising the precious lives of the citizens of this country, he said. Justice Anand Venkatesh also imposed five lakh each as cost on 6 medical colleges/universities that had illegally admitted the students in the academic year 2017-18. The Judge didn't spare the HC too, & said, “this court also should take the blame for having taken such a long time to hear these cases & render judgment.” “On various occasions, the judiciary had shown misplaced sympathy on unmeritorious candidates through interim orders & that has proven to be counter-productive, more particularly when it comes to medical education,” the Judge said. 

7 institutions Arupadai Veedu Medical College, Vinayaga Mission Medical College, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Centre, Sri Lakhmi Narayana Institute of Medical Science, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College, Sri Venkateswara Medical College & Research Centre, & Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science & Research admitted 65 students on their own denying admission to students selected through the CENTAC.

The colleges alleged that the students referred by CENTAC could not be admitted since they failed to pay the fee prescribed or never turned up for admission within the cut-off date. 

Subsequently, MCI issued orders cancelling the admission of all the 65 students admitted by the colleges on their own. Challenging the MCI order, the institutions & the students aggrieved have moved the Court separately.

This apart, students who were referred by CENTAC but denied admission by colleges, also approached the Court seeking to admit them at least in the next academic year.

Defending their admission, the 65 students submitted that some are even standing as frontline warriors in the fight against COVID-19 & the same should be taken into consideration by the Court while deciding the petitions.

Refusing to accept any such arguments, the Court said, “the petitioners undertook that they will not claim any equity by virtue of the interim orders passed in their favour. Since the matter involves post-graduate courses, this court is not willing to compromise on merits & get swayed by other considerations.”

This apart, pointing out that the institutions had adopted an illegal procedure to fill the seats & admit candidates unilaterally, the Judge said the institutions were liable to pay Rs 5 lakh each as costs.

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