The MCI, the highest decision making body on medical education, has taken serious exception to the seat-sharing pattern, citing that it goes against the regulation of the Council.

For admission to post-graduate medical seats for the academic year 2007, the government and 11 medical colleges under the aegis of the Consortium of Medical, Dental and Engineering Colleges in Karnataka (Comed-K), had arrived at a 33:66 seat sharing formula (i.e., 33 per cent filled by government and 66 per cent by private colleges). 

In all, 832 PG medical seats were filled by the management, and 277 by the government.

However, the MCI is not happy. Sources say the Council has cited that the pattern is in violation to its  ‘Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations- 2000’. The regulations stipulate that in private institutions, 50 per cent of the total seats shall be filled by the government and the remaining 50 per cent by the management of the institution, on the basis of merit.

And that’s not all. The MCI, in a letter dated December 14, had directed principals of the 11 medical colleges to compensate for the “violations” by offering the “excess”16 per cent (which is over and above the 50 per cent seats allotted to the management) to government during admissions for PG courses next year.

In other words, the MCI wants the government to fill 66 per cent seats in private institutions during admissions 2008. These MCI directions come at a time when the government and private managements have agreed that this year’s formula will be applicable for 2008 too.

However, Comed-K representatives argue that the MCI regulations have no relevance now following the Supreme Court judgement in the Islamic Academy case which abolished quota in private unaided colleges.

“Following the Supreme Court order, there is no obligation on us to part with management seats. However, on a request from the government, we decided to share 33 per cent seats,” Comed-K secretary Dr S Kumar said, adding, “Moreover, the memorandum of understanding between the government and Comed-K has been approved by SC.”

Comed-K will hold a meeting next week and dispatching a reply to the MCI to ‘clarify’ the issue, he said.