THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A serious anomaly in the process of admission to undergraduate medical courses in deemed universities across the country has left hundreds of candidates ineligible to apply for higher options. This has given rise to a scenario in which candidates with low all-India ranks in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) are able to secure admission to MBBS seats while those with higher ranks are denied that chance.Two rounds of allotment have already been carried out by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) -under the Directorate General of Health Services, Union Health Ministry - to fill medical seats in deemed universities across the country. With around 7.461 seats - majority of them MBBS- still lying vacant, the MCC went in for a ‘mop-up round’ from Monday to fill those seats.
Ironically, candidates who got the first round allotment and joined the allotted college were declared ineligible for the mop-up round. This, despite the candidates not receiving any allotment in the second round.“The MCC guidelines rule out only three types of candidates for mop-up round. They should have joined round two or have resigned in round one or not reported or not joined the college after rounds one and two. Nowhere is it mentioned that candidates who got allotted and joined in round 1 are not eligible,” said the parent of a candidate on condition of anonymity.
According to the parent, his daughter, who secured a higher rank in NEET, obtained admission for BDS in round one and joined the college. The student had not got any allotment in round two. However, when the candidate logged into the portal for the mop-up round for MBBS seats, she was denied permission to fill up choices. According to reports, scores of other candidates too were denied chance to participate in the mop-up round
“This has given rise to a scenario where a candidate of lower rank is able to secure MBBS admission while a deserving candidate is denied that option,” said the parent. Candidates and parents have taken up the matter with the Medical Counselling Committee but are yet to receive a satisfactory explanation.