Kerala: Panel to scrutinise Medical College admission bill

Thiruvananthapuram: The  Assembly on Tuesday referred to the subjects committee the legislation to regularise the admissions in Kannur Medical College and Karuna Medical College, Palakkad,  in 2016-17 which were cancelled on the ground that they were non-transparent and arbitrary.  The decision was  based on a petition by the students pointing out that they should not be victimised for others’ fault.  The Kerala Professional Colleges (Regularisation of Admission in Medical Colleges) Bill, 2018 was brought to replace the ordinance.

The Bill will be returned to the Assembly after the deliberations in the subjects committee.  The students who got admissions need to be   qualified as per the rank list prepared on the basis of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).   As per the Bill,  an officer not below the rank of secretary will be authorised by the government as competent  authority to consider an application.

The Justice James Committee for fee regulation and admission to professional colleges had cancelled the admission of 150 students after it was found that the admission proceedings were irregular. The High Court and later the Supreme Court upheld the decision.   The students admitted to 11 seats in Malabar Medical College and eight seats in  Al Azhar Medical College, Thodupuzha, may also benefit by  the move. However, there are concerns  whether it will stand legal scrutiny.8