'Shifting seats' stall RGUHS counselling

Chaos continued to rein for the second consecutive day at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) counselling for post graduate medical seats.

Several seats available in the previous round were found missing the seat matrix and the goof-up brought the counselling to a halt on Sunday.

The candidates alleged that the seat matrix furnished at the counselling session had been modified from an earlier version. This is the second time that RGUHS is holding counselling after the Karnataka High Court ordered fresh counselling to include candidates who allegedly cheated in the entrance test.

While counselling for around 160 in-service candidates was completed by afternoon, things came to a standstill after the authorities did not release the seat matrix for the entrance quota.

The matrix was released after protests by candidates. However, they found that it was different from the one shown during the previous round of counselling.

At this, they protested against the authorities and refused to allow the counselling to proceed. The officers of the RGUHS and Medical Education department though spoke to the students, did not make any announcement.

Govt seats reduced

According to the candidates, the government modified the seat matrix by shifting the seats in government colleges from the entrance quota to the in-service quota. In turn, seats from private medical colleges were added to the entrance quota. 

Several candidates pointed out that with this change, candidates would have to shell out more money.

“Seats in government colleges cost only Rs 20,000, while those in private colleges cost Rs three lakh,” said one student.

“What was the need to tinker with the seat matrix? The High Court order only asks for changing the rank-list, not for changing the seat matrix,” asked Dr Bommiah, a parent.

Candidates are demanding that the government re-start the counselling process all over again. Dr Sujatha, another candidate said the counselling should start afresh on the basis of the earlier seat matrix. Some attributed the move as cost-cutting measure for the government. “Since the government pays for the fees of in-service candidates, they must have put more government seats in the in-service quota,” said a candidate.

Following protests, the RGUHS officials announced that counselling will be held on Monday at 8 am.