Directed MCI to Increase the number of Seats in Private Medical Colleges
The Delhi High Court has directed the Medical Council of
India (MCI) to allow the plea of a group of private medical colleges to increase
the number of seats in MBBS course from 100 to 150.
Justice Kailash Gambhir, in a 110-page judgment, said "the respondent MCI is directed
to grant increase in the additional intake of students from 100 to 150 to all these
petitioner institutes subject to, however, these colleges fulfilling all other requirements
and the criteria laid down in the regulations and there being no deficiencies existing
for granting the said increased intake in the admission capacity from 100 to 150
students in the MBBS course."
The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by Teerthankar Mahaveer Institute
of Management, Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and School of Medical
Sciences and Research, Sharda University, challenging the MCI's May 6 order whereby
it rejected the grant of additional intake in the MBBS course in these institutes
and colleges.
"The increase in additional intake to these petitioners was not granted by the respondent
MCI only because they were found ineligible to qualify to apply for such increase
in their admission capacity," the court observed while rejecting the MCI's plea
to refer back to it the plea of the medical colleges for consideration.
"The parties are well aware that September 30, 2011, is the dead line for admissions
in the MBBS course and if these matters are remanded back to the respondent as per
submission of the counsel for MCI, then these petitions will become infructuous
despite the decision of this court in their favour," Justice Gambhir said.
The court said there were only 19 medical colleges in the country at the time of
independence and today the number of colleges imparting MBBS education is almost
335.
"It is indeed a significant rise which should be the sign of the progress and growth
of a nation, especially like ours, with a burgeoning population. But whether the
increased number means higher health care delivery system is still debatable as
the number crunching has another story to tell," the court observed.
"With the government colleges' share being less and the private colleges shouldering
more responsibility, there is still approximately only 1 medical college per 38.41
lakh people, dismal figures which reflect the acute crisis in the country," the
court said.
Courtesy: OUTLOOK India
