Hopes for an increase in the intake of government medical colleges in the state have suffered a partial setback: the Medical Council of India (MCI) has rejected the application of Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubli, to add 50 seats for 2014-15. MCI gave no reason for the rejection.

Competition for seats is expected to be keener this year because of an increase in the number of student

s appearing for the PU exams and the introduction of a quota for Hyderabad-Karnataka students.

However, all hope is not lost as applications of the government to set up colleges at Gulbarga, Gadag, Chamrajnagar, Kodagu, Koppal and Karwar are under assessm

ent. If the assessment cell approves them, the state will get 900 additional seats at the new government medical colleges.

The MCI has also rejected applications by three private trusts to set up new medical colleges. For 2014-15, there were 11 applications for setting up new medical colleges, including six from the government.

Of these, MCI rejected applications of three private trusts, including Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education, Tumkur, owned by KPCC president G Parameshwara.

The other two applications rejected were from Mookambigai Charitable and Education Trust, Bangalore, and Radhakrishna Education Trust, Ramanagaram.

Sri Siddhartha Academy had planned to establish a new college in Bangalore.ucation Trust, Bangalore, and Radhakrishna Education Trust, Ramanagaram. president G Parameshwara.

Though the MCI has not stated any reasons for rejecting applications, according to sources in the Department of Medical Education, lack of infrastructure and failure to fulfil MCI’s guidelines are the main reasons. “Some institutions failed to submit land documents and endowment fund details,” said a source.

Meanwhile, MCI accepted applications of Akash Education and Development Trust, Bangalore, and Children’s Education Society, Bangalore, to set up new colleges. Depending on the assessment, 300 more seats will be available at these two colleges.

MCI has recommended to the Centre not to approve renewal of affiliation of ESIC Medical College for the year 2014-15. It has also rejected the increase  in intake at the Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, from 100 to 150.

However, Dr Rajiv Shetty, director ESIC Medical College Hospital says, “This year, since the MCI team came for inspection early, most of our staff were on leave to attend conferences. The MCI did not recommend renewal of affiliation citing staff shortage,” he said.