Shifted to private colleges in state, Jhajjar MBBS students move HC

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, January 2

The MBBS students of World College of Medical Science and Research here have challenged the state government’s proposal and the Medical Council of India’s approval of their shifting to two other private medical colleges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

They have prayed to the court to direct the state government to ensure shifting of their batch to such colleges which are affiliated to Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, and are on the same fee structure as World College. Hearing the petition, the court has issued notice to the state government and fixed January 9 as the next date of hearing in the case.

“The MCI has approved the state government’s proposal of shifting of 148 students of World College to Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science and Research (MMIMSR) in Ambala’s Mullana and SGT Medical College in Gurugram’s Budhera village while both the colleges are not affiliated to Pt BD Sharma Health University. Even their fee is more than double the World College,” said Yogesh Yadav, brother of Yogita who along with other students is the petitioner in the case.

He pointed out that both the colleges are affiliated to private/deemed universities whose academic standards are far below Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences. The SGT University, Gurugram, charges a total fee of Rs 18 lakh for third year of MBBS course and the fee of Maharishi Markandeshwar University is Rs 15 lakh while they had paid Rs 7.46 lakh as fee to World College which is affiliated to Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, he added.

“Both the private colleges have limited infrastructure and clinic material. Hence, the shifting of 148 MBBS students to the colleges will create huge burden on their infrastructure leading to apprehension that petitioners will again face a similar situation as they faced in World College. Hence, the proposal of shifting approved by the MCI requires a re-look. The state government should be directed to accommodate 148 students to available medical colleges proportionately within Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences,” Yadav maintained.

In the petition, the students have demanded their shifting to Pt BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak; BPS Government College for Women, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat); Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Nalhar (Mewat); and Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha (Hisar) in a proportionate manner.

Notably, students of World College had staged dharna in Jhajjar city for 108 days to get their demand of shifting of their batch to other colleges met.

The case so far

• Over inadequate infrastructure at World College, students had staged a dharna in Jhajjar for 108 days to get them shifted to other colleges
• The MCI approved the state government’s proposal of shifting the 148 students of World College to Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science and Research in Ambala’s Mullana and SGT Medical College in Gurugram’s Budhera village
• Now, the students have challenged the state government’s proposal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court