TN gets to take a call on accommodating students of Defunct Ponnaiyah medical college
Chennai: The Madras high court has granted time till April 24 to the state government to respond to the communication sent by the Central government informing the recommendation of the Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India, to accommodate the 108 students of defunct Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Medical Sciences admitted during the academic year 2016-2017 in all the Government medical colleges of Tamil Nadu.
A division bench comprising Justices M.Sathyanarayanan and P.Rajamanickam posted to April 24, further hearing of the review petition filed by the state government.
Originally, on a batch of petitions from the students of PRIMS, a single judge had directed the state government to send a proposal to the MCI to accommodate the students in government medical colleges. Aggrieved, the state government filed an appeal and the bench had on February 1, directed the state government to submit a fresh proposal to the Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India for accommodating 108 students in 22 government medical colleges in the state. As against this order, the state government filed the present review petition and the bench had on February 13, directed the state government to send necessary proposal for accommodating 108 students both in 22 government medical colleges as well as 10 private medical colleges. The bench also directed the MCI and the Union government to act on the proposal and take a decision. In compliance with the order of the court, the MCI has made the present recommendation.
When the case came up for hearing on April 15, additional advocate general Narmada Sampath informed the court that the state government wants to take a call on the recommendation of the Board of Governors and sought one week time.
Opposing the same, senior counsel P.Wilson, appearing for the students submitted that even after the order of the single judge, the students has not attended the classes and they have less attendance. Originally, this bench had directed the state government to accommodate the students in government medical colleges. But, the state government failed to comply with the order and stated that it would accommodate the students only in private colleges. Thereafter, this court had directed the state government to send proposal to accommodate the students in 22 government colleges and 10 private colleges. Now MCI has submitted its recommendation to accommodate them in government medical colleges. How can the state government defy the present order, Wilson asked. The HC, after some more arguments, gave the State time till April 24 to reply, when it is likely to dispose of the petition.
