Faced with complaints that self-financing ayurveda college managements are making admission to vacant merit seats allegedly for monetary gain, the Admission Supervisory Committee headed by Justice J M James has decided to intervene in the issue.
The committee sought details from the Director of Ayurveda Medical Education on the actual position of seats to ascertain whether the managements have indulged in any malpractices in the admission process.
‘Express’ had earlier reported how the government’s agreement with private self-financing college managements, under which the number of allotments for admission to ayurveda courses was restricted to three, has enabled the managements to stake claim to many merit seats which subsequently fell vacant.
“Complaints are pouring in from various quarters alleging that the vacant merit seats in self-financing ayurveda medical colleges are being filled by managements for financial gain and even from outside the entrance ranklist. I have spoken to the Director of Ayurveda Medical Education and the management association representatives. The Admission Supervisory Committee will intervene if there are any malpractices,” Justice James told ‘Express’. Though the Director of Ayurveda Medical Education had directed private managements not to make any more admissions to merit seats, sources say many colleges have not complied with the order. While 18 merit seats have already been filled, three other colleges have not furnished details on the status of around 15 merit seats. Meanwhile, the government is dragging its feet on the issue. Despite Health Secretary K Ellangovan recommending to the government to extend the allotment process till October 31 and make amendments to “obstructive’’ clauses in the agreement which empowered the managements to make such admissions, no decision has yet been taken.
“We are studying the recommendations of the Health Secretary. A meeting, chaired by the CM, will be called to discuss the matter and take corrective steps,’’ the Health Minister told ‘Express’.
According to sources in the Directorate of Ayurveda Medical Education, apart from the vacant merit seats in self-financing colleges, 104 seats in merit category are lying vacant in government and aided ayurveda colleges. “If the government directs the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations to fill these 104 merit seats immediately, the beneficiaries will be students who have taken admission in the merit quota in self-financing colleges. This means that over 100 students in the merit category who are set to pay annual fees of `50,000 in self-financing colleges will need to pay only a nominal fee in government and aided colleges,” said a senior official of the Ayurveda Medical Education Directorate.