'Speculations' over MBBS seat allotment leaves students in a spot

Comed-K has assured that their interests will be taken care of

 A direction by the State government for seat allotment to MBBS course, based on a speculation that the Medical Council of India (MCI) would grant approval to these seats, has now left the students in a spot. 

As many as 12 students who were allotted seats to MBBS course through the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (Comed-K) in the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bangalore, will not be getting admissions there, as the institute was not granted approval for the 12 seats.

It all began with an “optimistic” notification on part of the State government asking both, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) and Comed-K to conduct allotment in KIMS for more seats than the indicated availability. 

Last year the college had approval for 150 seats. Among them, 60 each were on offer through the CET and the Comed-K. The rest were for the management quota. This time though only 120 seats were sanctioned.

This meant that there would be only 48 seats each to offer through CET and Comed-K. However, anticipating approval for the rest of the seats too, the government directed both - the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) and Comed-K - to conduct counselling for 60 seats each.

Not an ordeal 

Luckily for KEA, this did not turn out to be an ordeal. During the second extended round of counselling (on July 17, 2014) the KEA officials came to know that the MCI had given nod only for 120 seats and that they could conduct counselling only for 48 seats. The twelve seats were immediately removed. Fortunately, though, additional seats were added to the Bangalore Medical College (BMC). “The students got seats in BMC which turned out to be a fair deal,” a KEA official said. According to officials, the government got confirmation from MCI about the intake on July 16, 2014. 

In Comed-K’s case, they came to know about it only after the second round of counselling (conducted between July 19 and 21, 2014), said Comed-K Chief Executive A S Srikanth. He added that even though initially they had decided to conduct counselling for only 48 seats, they stuck to the government’s directions. 

On the contrary, Dr M G Gopal, principal and dean, KIMS, told Deccan Herald that the college had written to the Comed-K thrice - on June 19 and 24, and July 16, 2014, respectively, intimating it about the reduction in the number of seats. 

Srikanth assured that the future of the 12 students was safe. Of these twelve students, three have already secured admissions to MBBS elsewhere in the country. The Comed-K is also holding a third round of counselling on August 20, 2014, where the rest of the nine students will be accommodated, he said. 

As on Saturday, there were 24 medical seats available. The surrendered seats includes one seat in the KIMS itself, four in JJM, Davangere, three in M S Ramaiah and a few seats in the Ambedkar Medical College, all of which figure among the top four institutes, based on the demand by students this year, Srikanth said. 

More seats are likely to be surrendered. “First preference will be given to these students only.”

Further, the Comed-K has issued endorsement to students that all their interests will be taken care, he added.