Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences

Patna, Aug. 4: Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) has jeopardised its chances of getting renewal of permission from the Medical Council of India (MCI) to conduct MBBS course.

The institution’s board of governors has decided to take admission for MBBS course through Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) for the current academic session.

This, experts believe, can risk the recognition provided recently by the MCI to the 100-seat medical college after the latter, in its application, submitted that admissions to the institution would be taken through an all-India-level entrance examination. Advertisements for the exams were published in newspapers and posted on the institution’s website after health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey agreed to conduct the examination on all-India level.

According to sources, about 10,000 students from across the country had applied for the examinations, which were scrapped by Choubey yesterday.

It was earlier decided that 15 per cent seats will be given to CBSE-All India Pre-Medical Test examinees, 10 per cent will be open for students from across the country and 70 per cent seats will remain reserved for students of Bihar domicile. The remaining 5 per cent seats were kept for NRI students who would be admitted through ministry of external affairs, government of India.

Now that the format has been scrapped, 85 per cent seats will be filled with students who would make it to BCECE merit list while 15 per cent will go to CBSE.

Meanwhile, Choubey defended the decision of board of governors, IGIMS, saying that in normal course, it takes any medical institution about four to five months to complete the admission process. “Since IGIMS was granted permission only on June 30 this year, it seemed impossible to ensure free and fair admissions through a separate examination within two months time as the first counselling for admission into a medical college should be finished by August 31, as per Supreme Court guidelines. Therefore it is not a fault on our part,” he said.

Sources in the health department, however, said this move could cost the institution dear, as the MCI guidelines clearly state that any violations from the terms of agreement at the time of application can lead to cancellation of the permission of recognition in subsequent years.

“The controversy could lead to bigger troubles for the institution in coming months. This episode has not only marred the reputation and reliability of the institution, it has also hampered the future prospects of the upcoming medical college. This is a legal situation,” said a source in the department.

The step has not only left thousands of applicants high and dry, it has also left institution and the state government embarrassed.

Meanwhile, the process has begun to return demand drafts to applicants who had applied for the entrance test. Choubey announced after board of governors meeting yesterday that all the drafts be will returned to the aspirants individually through registered post.

The institution, on the other hand, is flooded with queries from students all across the country, who want to know the “status” of the proposed examination.