In the wake of unscrupulous agents duping students who failed to get a medical seat in the college of their choice by promising to get them guaranteed admission, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has issued an advisory stating that all admissions for the 2017-18 academic year will be based on common counselling alone.

The advisory issued to students planning to study medicine reiterated that admissions made without common counselling would be “impermissible and illegal”.

“It has come to the notice of the Medical Council of India that certain unscrupulous elements are misleading students by assuring them that they will get them admitted in MBBS courses in medical colleges. In this regard, it is brought to the notice of all concerned that admissions for MBBS in all medical colleges falling within the purview of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, for the academic year 2017-18 has to be through the common counselling,” the circular reads. MCI noted that such agents were demanding capitation fee for admissions, and cautioned students not to be misled by “frivolous” statements.

While the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will conduct counselling for the 15% all-India quota seats as well as seats in deemed universities, the designated authority will conduct counselling for all other seats in the respective States. Students have also been urged to check the credentials of colleges on the MCI website.

Move welcomed

Parents and students have welcomed the move. A parent of a medical seat aspirant who had received a message stating that seats could be purchased said, “It is a good thing that the MCI has made this clear. There are people who are falling for this as they failed to get seats in colleges of their choice in the first round of counselling.”

Date: Aug 14, 2017

Source: The Hindu