Students, parents hold protest at GMCH

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

Students and parents held a protest at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, on Friday demanding admissions for Chandigarh residents to MBBS following the Punjab and Haryana High Court order.

It was the last day of MBBS admissions at the college. The parents and students came to the hospital around 2 pm and stayed outside the office of the Director-Principal, Dr BS Chavan, till late at night.

“We have been sitting at the college since 2 pm. We spoke to the Director, but he left the office without even discussing the matter properly with us,” said a parent preferring anonymity.

They argued that there was no difference between Chandigarh residents, who had passed Class XI and XII from here, and those from other states who had passed these classes from here when it came to admission. Those from Chandigarh should be given the benefit of the UT quota, they said.

“Students from other states are taking the quota benefit in their respective state and Chandigarh as well. This is wrong. Local students should get admission under the UT quota,” said an admission aspirant from the city.

The Director-Principal did not respond to repeated calls for his comments.  An official reportedly told the parents that they had no clarity on the court order. However, as it was a last day of admission, people were asking for relief from the college. 

The court has held as arbitrary a condition that allows students even from outside to become eligible for the UT quota in medical admissions after passing the Class XII examination from institutes situated in the city.