Counselling for seats in postgraduate courses in government medical colleges was stalled for nearly two hours on Monday following protests by government doctors.
The Directorate of Medical Education had prepared for counselling to fill the 3% quota seats under the category for candidates with disabilities. Counselling was scheduled for noon but two groups of doctors — the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association and the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association — disrupted the process. While the SDPGA squatted inside the hall where counselling was to be held, the TNMOA protested outside the venue.
The police evicted both groups. The DME officials later met with the SDPGA members. The association had wanted to know the urgency in conducting the counselling. To this the officials said the government was following the Supreme Court order. As to whether the admission of students was final, the officials said the government had approached the court with a special leave petition and its outcome was awaited. The protesters also wanted to know the status of seat matrix to which the officials said they were awaiting details from the private institutions.
Counselling finally began around 2 p.m. For the 23 seats available under the category, only 11 candidates had been called. Since one candidate opted to take a seat under the All India Quota, counselling was held for 10 seats.
On Monday, four service candidates and six non-service candidates were admitted to various PG courses.
Selection Secretary G. Selvarajan said that the government was expecting the private medical institutions and deemed universities to surrender 50% of their seats by evening after which the seat matrix would be displayed on the tnhealth.org website.
On Tuesday, counselling for general category candidates is expected to be held. The Supreme Court has mandated that counselling for the first phase be completed by May 11.
The last date for submission of application for PG courses under NRI quota in self-financing medical colleges and colleges under deemed universities is May 11.
