MPHC asks govt for list of medical candidates

Jabalpur, Apr 24: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has asked the state government to submit a list of candidates admitted to private medical colleges through a selection test conducted by the Professional Examination Board in September 2005.

Acting on a plea by Ms Kavya Gupta who alleged irregularities in filling of 50 per cent seats, under a government quota, Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik and Justice Krishna Kumar Lahoti yesterday ordered the Director (Medical Education) to submit the list before May 9, the next date of hearing.

''Admissions for the 2005-06 session should have been made as per the merit list. Ms Gupta was on the waiting list and on September 27, 2005 after a second round of counselling the Director recommended her admission under the government quota in the People's Medical College, Bhopal,'' said Petitioner's Counsel Aditya Sanghi.

He alleged that the College demanded a capitation fee of Rs 20 lakh on the last date of admission for MBBS seats.

''September 16, 2005 was fixed as the date for the second counselling but that was postponed to September 27. As September 30 was the last date for admission, the chances of a third counselling dwindled,'' said Advocate Sanghi.

The petition alleged that between September 27 and 30, the Medical Education Department indulged in heavy irregularities and even admitted candidates who did not figure on the merit list, in exchange for capitation fees. Consequently, the Court directed that 26 eligible candidates who were not admitted in 2005-06 be admitted in the 2006-07 session, the plea added.

Ms Gupta urged the Bench to order a probe into the irregularities, cancel the admission of undeserving candidates and take action against the officials responsible.

UNI