‘Fake’ domicile: Baba Farid University of Health Sciences seeks explanation from over 100 MBBS aspirants

Faridkot, August 27

The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) today sought explanation from more than 100 MBBS aspirants after it received complaints that many students from other states were using fake domicile certificate to get admission on state quota MBBS seats. Out of total 1,550 MBBS seats, 10 medical colleges offer about 1,200 state quota seats in the state.

A domicile certificate is an important official document establishing an individual’s residency specific state or Union Territory (UT). This certificate is proof of one’s permanent residence.

The state quota seats are reserved for the domicile candidates of the state and using the fake domiciles to get admission into the MBBS course is a big disadvantage to the state students. There are 5,721 applicants for these 1,200 state quota MBBS seats in the first round of counselling.

In complaints to BFUHS authorities, students and their parents from different parts of Punjab alleged that names of many aspirants for state quota seats were figuring simultaneously in the merit lists of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, making a claim of them being bona fide residents of these states.

As a student cannot claim to be a bona fide resident of more than one state, hence there is use of multiple domicile certificates by over 100 students here, it is alleged.

As per rules, all aspirants and their parents for admission into state quota MBBS course seats in Punjab have to submit affidavits stating that they were not claiming the benefit of residence in any other state or the UT for admission to MBBS course.

After receiving numerous complaints, the BFUHS has started the scrutiny of certificates submitted by suspected candidates and sought explanation from them about their name in the merit list of other states, said a senior functionary of the medical university.

There would be fair play and full transparency in the allotment of MBBS seats and no cheating would be allowed at any cost, said Dr Rajeev Sood, Vice-Chancellor, BFUHS.