State govt moves to rein in Markedeshwar college

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 1

Finally, the state government has taken the first step to rein in Maharshi Markedeshwar Medical College (MMMC) at Kumarhatti in Solan by modifying its earlier notification. Now, the MMMC is bound to make admission for the third batch of its MBBS course on the basis of AIPMT merit for both state and management quota seats through centralised counselling.

The Medical Council of India has approved admission to 150 seats for the third batch of MBBS course for 2015-16 for the MMMC, a college of Maharshi Markedeshwar University in Solan. During the last two years, the admission to 300 seats for the first two batches were not made through centralised counselling. A notification issued by the Governor, modifying the Himachal Pradesh Private Medical Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2006 said, “Admission to two government medical colleges — Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, and Dr RP Medical College, Tanda, Kangra, and one private medical college — Maharshi Markedeshwar Medical College, Kumarhatti, for both state and management quota would be made on the basis of all-India pre-medical test (AIPMT) through a centralised counselling to be headed by Director, Medical Education and Research.” The state government had issued essentiality certificate to the MMU Trust for opening the medical college affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University, but it made the MMMC, a constituent college of the MMU.

In spite of prolonged correspondence, the issue of affiliation has not been resolved, but the government has taken a major step by providing for centralised counselling for admission to both state and management quota seats. There are 50 per cent seats under the state quota while the other 50 per cent seats are under management quota, but the fee structure for both state and management quota seats is exorbitant. The annual fee and other charges for seats under government quota is almost 10 times.