Sting in Comed-K tale
Counselling halted
The second round of counselling for medical and dental seats via Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges (Comed-K) PGET 2010 came to an abrupt halt on Thursday after a sting exposed the role of brokers in blocking seats during the counselling process.
And after sustained protests from both students and activists of Jai Karnataka, the managements decide to cancel the counselling altogether. Counselling for all post graduation seats allotted by Comed-K, including those during the first round on April 10, will be held afresh on April 29 and 30.
The sting exposed brokers promising seats to candidates for a sum of money while assuring them that seats had already been blocked.
Counselling was cancelled after students and Jai Karnataka activists protested this move. Things turned particularly ugly after Jai Karnataka activists beat up brokers at the premises after around 18 seats were blocked by students of a higher rank.
Yearly nuisance
Speaking to Deccan Herald, S Kumar, Executive Secretary of Comed-K, said meritorious students, who had already secured seats in other states, blocking seats in Karnataka was a yearly nuisance.
“The law states that students of a higher rank will be eligible for these seats. It is simply a case of decline in the morality of meritorious students who first block seats and then sell them to agents,” he said.
However, he added that the alottment was only provisional and did not guarantee admission.
Kumar added that fresh counselling for all seats will be held on April 29 and 30 after the conclusion of KCET counselling. Kumar said: “The department of medical education has confirmed to us that KCET counselling for PG seats will be held on April 26, 27 and 28. We have decided to reschedule ours immediately after.”
The venue for the fresh counselling too has been shifted from NMKRV College in Jayanagar to the RV Dental College.
Candidates’ view
Meanwhile, most students at the counselling were elated with the decision of the managements to hold counselling all over again. Satish (name changed), a student from North Karnataka said the fresh counselling gives him a chance to get a course of his preference.
“Originally I wanted an MD course in General Medicine but that was not available and I had opted for MD in Anaesthesia. I hope the fresh counselling gives me a fair chance to secure a seat in General Medicine,” he said.
No option
Another student from Belgaum lamented about the fact that the PG counselling for medical and dental seats was over by the first week of April in most states.
“ Karnataka is the only state which has not conducted counselling yet. This Comed-K mess is because most students who are eligible for the government quota have no other option but to wait till the KCET counselling commences,” he added.
