Selection for MBBS/BDS courses:
Panel favours separate lists
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 20 — The three-member committee set up last year to look into grievances of candidates over selection of students for MBBS and BDS courses has recommended that a common entrance test for medical and engineering colleges should be held and selection lists issued separately for the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

The seats in Jammu medical and engineering colleges should be earmarked for candidates belonging to the Jammu region and those in Kashmir colleges for the candidates belonging to the valley.

A certain number of seats may be reserved for candidates belonging to Ladakh in proportion to its population.

The report of the committee headed by Mr R.P. Singhal, well-known educationist, was released by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, at a press conference here today. The other two members on the committee were Mr A.R. Kidwai and Dr S. Rampal. The report has been signed by Mr Singhal and Mr Kidwai. Mr Rampal has dissociated himself from the recommendations of the committee.

In reply to a question, Dr Farooq said Dr Rampal had not intimated the government on his dissent.

The Chief Minister said in the light of the recommendations of the committee, the state government would send a team comprising the Law Minister, Law Secretary and Advocate-General for a detailed discussion with legal luminaries in Delhi. If need be the state government would approach the Supreme Court for direction because "we plan to give representation in professional colleges to candidates belonging to the sub-regions of the state."

The committee has recommended that the "competent authority" may draw up an academic calendar for various tests in order to avoid inordinate delays in the conduct of examinations and declaration of results.

The committee has said there was no evidence of copying en masse or use of unfair means at the examination centres for MBBS and BDS tests. It said there was no irregularity or bungling in the assessment of answer-sheets. It may be recalled here that last year life was paralysed in Jammu when students and political parties went on strike in protest against the "irregularities" in the selection of candidates for the MBBS and BDS courses.

The committee has come to the conclusion that the existing procedure by which the candidates have the option to apply for re-checking of their answer-sheets and to verify assessment by personally examining their answer-sheets provide enough transparency to the system.

The committee has, however, recommended improvement in the procedure for paper-setting, conduct of examinations, supervision of examination centres and compilation and declaration of results. It has recommended that the "competent authority" may be guided by an advisory committee which could periodically review its functions.

The committee has also recommended the need to lay down rules regarding the tenure of senior officials of "competent authority."