21 more BDS seats filled, 354 still vacant

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, September 15

In the fourth and last attempt to fill vacant BDS seats in private dental colleges of the state, 21 students took admission against 375 vacant seats on Sunday.

On the persistent demand of some dental colleges, which have over 60-80 per cent of BDS seats lying vacant, the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) on Sunday conducted the fourth counselling session to fill 375 BDS seats. However, only 21 seats could be filled.

Varsity sources said the 21 seats could be filled only after the private colleges agreed to offer a huge waiver in the tuition fee. Of the 21 candidates, 16 joined Desh Bhagat Dental College at Gobindgarh, one each at five dental colleges at Ferozepur, Faridkot, and Sunam and two at Dera Bassi.

Desh Bhagat Dental College had maximum 82 (total 100) vacant seats. After the BFUHS announced the closure of counselling on September 13, the dental college had invited candidates to its campus for admission on September 14.

Terming the move as illegal, the BFUHS claimed the medical university was only nodal agency authorised to conduct counselling.