M A I N   N E W S

Non-compliance of MBBS admission schedule irks SC

New Delhi, August 1
Expressing displeasure over non-adherence to the time schedule for completing admissions to the MBBS course in government medical colleges, the Supreme Court has asked eight states, including Punjab, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, to state reasons for the lapse.

A three-judge Bench headed by Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, hearing petitions filed by aspiring doctors on the issue, asked the Chief Secretaries and the Health Secretaries of the states concerned to supply information in this regard and posted the matter for further hearing tomorrow.

Counsels for the petitioners had requested the court to direct the Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) to postpone the second round of counselling for the all-India quota admissions in view of the delay in admission process of state medical colleges.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) said the apex court had earlier drawn up a schedule for completion of MBBS admissions to ensure that courses commenced on August 1 every year. As per that schedule, each state was required to complete counselling by July 25 so as to complete the admission process by July 31.

The Bench directed officials of the state governments concerned to remain present in the court tomorrow to show compliance of the time schedule for admissions and “the reasons for non-compliance”. — PTI