The State government on Friday submitted before the Kerala High Court that if the Kerala Private Medical College Management Association (KPMCMA) backs off from the seat sharing agreement, it would become null and void. Any right or benefit by way of the said agreement will also cease to exist.
The state filed the affidavit in response to a petition filed by the association challenging an order of the Admission Supervisory Committee for Professional Colleges cancelling the entrance examination held by the association admission to the MBBS management seats. Soon after the order of Committee, the association has communicated their decision to withdraw from the agreement.
The state said that if the KPMCMA withdrew from the agreement, the Self-Financing Medical Colleges (SFMCs) under the association would have to fill up the management seats either from the rank list of a fresh entrance test or from the rank list published after NEET-UG examination. As per the agreement, the Association had agreed to share 50 per cent of seats under the government merit quota in their colleges. The government said that when the Committee cancelled the examination and requested the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations to conduct a fresh entrance test, the government thought it appropriate to issue directive to the Commissioner for holding a fresh examination on June 22.
The Admission Supervisory Committee shall supervise and guide the entire process of admission of students with a view to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, merit based and non-exploitive. The KPMCMA contended that the entrance test was conducted strictly in accordance with the requirements of law and the principles laid down by the High Court and the Supreme Court.
The committee’s decision to get a fresh entrance examination for the MBBS management quota seats conducted on June 22 by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations was arbitrary. The test was conducted under the supervision of the committee. Dr. Anirudhan, an observer appointed by the Committee had reported that the examination was conducted fairly. Meanwhile, two students - Jamana Shihabudheen of Kilimanoor and Nahla Aboobecker of Punnassery approached the court seeking to implead in the case.