Indian Nursing Council de-recognises all nursing colleges in Karnataka, second time this year
BENGALURU: Nursing colleges in the state are in trouble again after the Indian Nursing Council (INC) removed names of all colleges functioning in Karnataka from its official list, in the second such instance this year.This amounts to INC de-recognising the colleges and jeopardising the future of over 2 lakh nursing students in the state. In other words, the degrees of students studied who have studied in Karnataka will not be valid outside the state.
The INC move has come as a huge shock to college managements in the midst of the academic year.
Some are viewing it as a pressure tactic by the INC ahead of a high court hearing on the issue on Thursday.The tussle began way back in December 2016 when the Karnataka government issued an order stating that nursing colleges do not require INC approval when they have nod from RGUHS and the Karnataka Nursing Council. In July, the INC struck off all colleges in state from its list. Soon college names were reinstated, following court order and government intervention.
Speaking to Express, a college representative said, “Things were normal from October. After a series of meetings and representations at the government level, the INC added Karnataka colleges to its list. But, we were shocked to see no name on INC website on Tuesday evening.”
INC has given no reason for the move. “They removed even genuine colleges from the list. While doing so, the authorities must inform the colleges giving valid reason,” said a college principal.
There are over 400 nursing colleges in the state of which 257 are approved by INC. Classes for the current academic year started in September. Dilip Kumar, chairperson of INC, was unavailable for comments.