Thiruvananthapuram: The admission supervisory committee headed by Justice J.M. James has asked the government to conduct a single counselling for filling the seats in 50 per cent management quota for MBBS and BDS in self-financing medical and dental colleges, including deemed universities. This follows the Union health ministry forwarding the schedule to the states on the admissions to be made from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
If the colleges have signed an agreement for admissions for 50 per cent government quota seats, these can be filled from the state entrance examinations. However, the self-financing medical and dental colleges are yet to reach an agreement with the state on the issue. As per the Supreme Court directive, the self-financing medical and dental colleges, including deemed universities, will have to make admissions from the NEET though government colleges can make admissions from the state entrance examinations.
Justice James told this newspaper that the committee sought the view of the government on conducting a single common counselling covering all colleges as the Union health ministry directive was meant for all the states. As per the schedule for NEET released by the Union health ministry, the results are to be published on August 17.
The first round of counselling is scheduled for seats other than all-India quota from September 3 to 5. The last date of joining the college is September 8. The second round of counselling is scheduled for seats other than all-India quota from September 21 to 23. The last date of joining the colleges is September 26. The classes for self- financing colleges will start on September 26 and admissions will close on September 30.
Private colleges mull legal action against James panel
The Kerala Private Med-ical College Management Association (KPMCA) is planning legal action against admission supervisory committee headed by Justice J.M. James for unilaterally imposing common counselling for all medical seats in self-financing medical and dental colleges. The association says that it violated the spirit of the Supreme Court verdict which restricts the power of the state government to make admissions to seats in self financing colleges.
The admissions for the previous years in government quota were based on the agreement reached by the government and managements. However, the James committee on the basis of an order from the Union health ministry had unilaterally taken over the management quota admissions also. The association was of the view that the Union health ministry order used the wording ‘may preferably go’ for combined counselling for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in all medical and dental colleges including deemed university.
The commission had misinterpreted the words ‘may preferably’ for issuing the order. This was even without consulting the managements, sources said. KPMCA secretary Anilkumar Vallil told this newspaper that the association was looking into the legality of the order. “We will take a final decision after considering all aspects of the order,” Mr Vallil said.
