TN Govt denies delay in medical counselling

Chennai, Aug 12 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today denied any inordinate delay in holding the second phase of counselling for admission to medical seats in the State.

The government clarification comes in the wake of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Founder-Leader S Ramadoss's charge the government deliberately delayed the second phase of counselling to benefit the self-financing Chettinad Medical College.

An official release, without going into the issue raised by the PMK leader, said the counselling was being conducted as per the schedule released by the All India Medical Council in accordance with the directive of Supreme court.

It said the first phase of counselling was held between July four and eight, when students were admitted to various Government Medical Colleges.

The second phase of counselling began yesterday following filling up of vacancies caused by students joining engineering courses, admission of students in the Dharmapuri Government Medical College, permission for which was obtained recently and admission of students under government quota in private Medical and Dental Colleges, the release said.

The government had to wait till the second week of August for the second phase of counselling as the position on vacant seats after filling up seats under the All India Quota would be known only by then, the release said.

In 2006-07, also the first phase of conselling was held between July 10 and 17 and the second phase between August ten and September one.

In 2007-08, too, the first phase of counselling was held between July nine and 15 and the second phase between August 27 and September one, the release added.

Dr Ramadoss had alleged the government deliberately delayed the second phase of counselling to enable the Chettnad Medical College to secure Deemed University Status.

Using the delay, the private college had secured the Deemed University status, thus denying the government, its quota of 97 seats, he had charged.

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