Impasse over MMMC admissions continues

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 13

While stalemate over admissions to 150 MBBS seats in Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC), Kumarhatti, continues and candidates are running from pillar to post for getting admission, the BJP which did not utter a word about the alleged violation of various Acts by the university today sought the intervention of the college to safeguard the interests of the students.

The government has provided it a list of students found eligible after combined counselling for 75 seats under the government quota and 75 seats under the management quota, including 13 NRI, but the college has not given admission to students.

The management of the college, which has affiliated the college toMaharishi Markandeshwar Medical University as a consequent college in violation of the Act, had urged the government to hike fee but the government turned down the request and directed the college to make admissions.

Supporting the students and their parents, state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti today blamed the “wrong policies” of the government for the impasse and sought the intervention of the government to safeguard the interests of the students and ensure that the students are not charged higher fee as compared to other medical colleges.

“Had the government shown seriousness in the matter, the issue would have been resolved and the students would not have faced such a situation”, he said adding that due to inept handling of the issue, the future of 150 MBBS students has become uncertain.

The classes for 2016-17 sessions of MBBS student first year students would start tomorrow in other colleges but admissions of MMMC students is hanging fire due to tussle between the state government and the university.

The fee for MBBS seats under 50 per cent state quota was exorbitant (Rs 5-lakh per annum) against Rs 60,000 in three government-run medical colleges. The parents of the students have been demanding substantial cut in fee so that meritorious students can avail the benefit of state quota seats.

Meanwhile, the ABVP today condemned the attitude of MMU and threatened to launch a statewide agitation starting with protest at the MMU campus in case the admissions are denied to the deserving candidate under state quote or high fees is charged from them.

In a meeting held at Solan, ABVP state convener for professional education Chetan Guleria alleged that the state government and the MMU authorities are hand in glove and unconcerned about the problem faced by the students as well as their parents.

He also demanded that the post of the Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission be filled immediately.