CENTAC counselling begins

Fate of Indira Gandhi medical college shrouded in uncertainty

June 25, 2014 03:10 pm | Updated 03:10 pm IST - PUDUCHERRY:

A student receiving verified certificate at the first day of CENTAC Medical counselling in Puducherry on Tuesday. Photo: T.Singaravelou

A student receiving verified certificate at the first day of CENTAC Medical counselling in Puducherry on Tuesday. Photo: T.Singaravelou

Counselling for the admissions to medical courses commenced on Tuesday even as uncertainty shrouded the fate of the lone government medical college — the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute (IGMCRI) which faces a de-recognition threat from the Medical Council of India.

There is also unpredictability over admissions to the government quota seats accruing from the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) which has resorted to litigation on the issue.

Call letters to 1003

The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) had issued call letters to 1,003 students for the two-day counselling for biology-based courses, including MBBS and BDS.

Counselling for seats under ex-servicemen, freedom fighters and sportspersons was held in the morning followed by general counselling.

As per seat matrix provided by CENTAC, there were 127 seats available in IGMCRI and 29 seats in Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences. A pool of 265 seats has been allotted under the government quota by self–financing colleges including PIMS which has approached the Madras High Court against the Government’s order for allotment of government quota seats.

Students who preferred to join IGMCRI and PIMS have not been provided with allotment orders.

No allotment order

During the counselling, R. Srija, a top scorer who preferred admission to the IGCMRI said that she was yet to receive an allotment order.

“I was told that the seat was confirmed to me but I am yet to receive any allotment order as of now. From what officials say now, I would be receiving the allotment letter a little later,” she said.

Similarly S. Sayanth of Mahe, who opted to join PIMS under the government quota, said she too had not been given an allotment order.

“They have been called here to exercise the option of choosing the course and college.

Once they chose the college, the allotment order will be sent either by mail or post after July 12,” said an official in the CENTAC.

The fee structures to self-financing colleges were not announced in advance so that the students and parents come prepared to the venue of counselling.

Vai. Balasubramanian, president of Students and Parents Welfare

Association, said that until Monday evening, fee structure and the details of seats for government quota allotted by self-financing colleges were not updated on the CENTAC website.

Before the commencement of counselling, only the fee structure to PIMS, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital and Sri Venkateswara Medical College was announced, but that of four others was not disclosed.

CENTAC officials said counselling for other courses such as engineering will commence in the middle of July.

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