Kerala: Decision on lady doctors' post graduation results hinges on court
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) vice-chancellor Dr M.K.C Nair said a decision on announcing the results of 11 lady doctors who did their post graduation from various medical colleges, would be taken only after the court verdict. He told DC that since the matter was pending before the court, KUHS cannot take a decision unilaterally. The lady doctors had alleged that their results had been withheld because of the confusion created by Kottayam Medical College principal and Controller of Examinations by submitting the wrong attendance to the university.
The vice-chancellor, however, said that students were allowed to write the exams provisionally following a court order on the eve of the examinations. “When experts calculated the attendance they realised that one of the students had just 34 per cent which was the lowest. There were others with 60 per cent,” he said and added that each student should have a minimum of 80 per cent in each of the three years. When pointed out that most of the candidates could not complete the attendance because of maternity leave, the vice chancellor said MCI has clearly stated that whatever may be the cause the actual attendance is mandatory for completing the course.
Meanwhile, a section of doctors said that the problem began from 2013. Doctors who availed maternity leave earlier had faced similar problems and they were allowed to take exams after court intervention. Even the results were declared on the strength of court orders in the past. This time too it was no different. There is utter confusion regarding the issue whether it is at the level of principal, controller of examinations or vice-chancellor.
MCI has prescribed 80 per cent attendance in each of the three years course. However, only under peculiar circumstances relaxation could be considered by the medical college principal and HOD. “Maternity can be treated as special case. If the government can grant maternity leave with salary, why relaxation cannot be given in attendance? The doctors said the health minister in her capacity as PVC can intervene and sort out the matter.
