Kochi: Giving fresh hope to the MBBS/BDS aspirants in the state, the Supreme Court on Monday extended the time-limit for conducting counselling to MBBS/BDS seats in the state to August 31. With this the Commissioner of Entrance Examination (CEE) can conduct a second round of counselling to self-financing medical colleges after settling the contentious fee issue. The differential fee structure in different self-financing colleges and the first counseling by the CEE to the self-financing medical colleges are being challenged in the Kerala High Court and the court on Monday heard the parties and is expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday.
Experts said the CEE had the time to conduct two more rounds of counseling to self-financing medical colleges if the High Court delivers a verdict with clarity on all aspects. The Supreme Court on Monday also referred the petition of the MES and Karakonam Medical Colleges to the High Court. The petition had challenged the High Court verdict on their fee structure. The High Court had come down heavily on the CEE and the Kerala Government for their inept handling of the allotment process despite an order from the court fixing Rs 5 lakh as fee for SF MBBS. Despite repeated attempts, the CEE was unavailable to clarify on the allotment ahead.
The confusing fee structure in the first allotment(just over) to the SF medical colleges and overall second medical allotment and the confusion created for the students in registering their options have made this allotment almost unsustainable. So it is to be seen whether this will be struck down by the High Court. In that case, students can heave a sigh of relief as they can register their options afresh if clarity also comes in the case of fee structure in all colleges. As of now there is clarity only in the case of admission to Christian medical colleges and students who have got allotment to these seats may not go after other seats. It is to be seen how the government will be able to salvage the subsidized fee structure applied in the case of MES and Karakonam medical colleges.
Produce court orders, state told
The Kerala High Court has asked the state government and colleges to produce the court orders and the entrance commission's order in connection with the controversial self-financing medical admissions. A division bench on Monday considered the petitions filed challenging the fee structure in self-financing medical colleges, including the one challenging the decision to raise it to Rs 11 lakh amid the continuing trauma faced by students seeking admissions.
