Several private entrance exams for MBBS/BDS cancelled

A number of private entrance tests for medical and dental admissions in Karnataka have either been cancelled or postponed following the cancellation of the  entrance test conducted by the Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental Colleges (COMEDK).

The consortium’s decision to cancel its exam followed a Supreme Court order on Friday that no private college or association can hold their entrance exams to undergraduate medical or dental courses.

The exam under the Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges’ Association (KRLMPCA) for MBBS admission to 12 religious and linguistic minority institutions has also been cancelled.

Shafi Ahmed, secretary of the association, said: “We will follow the line of COMEDK, but an official decision will be taken on Monday when all members meet. The meeting will also discuss other matters such as reimbursing students the application fees,” he said.

Fr Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, has also decided to cancel its exam. Director Fr Patrick Rodrigues said that all these years they were going by the COMEDK exam and since it had been cancelled, they had no other option.

Nitte University, Mangaluru, will also postpone its entrance exam scheduled for Monday. “We have postponed the exam indefinitely,” said the university’s public relations officer. Similarly, the Yenepoya University Assistant Registrar Nandeesh said they would wait and watch and take a decision on cancelling their test on Monday or Tuesday. The exam is scheduled for May 23.

Although Manipal University conducted its own exam before the Supreme Court gave the ruling, its PRO said it would wait and watch.

Hike in engg fees?

Meanwhile, the government is yet to decide on the fee hike demanded by private engineering colleges. Higher Education Minister T B Jayachandra said on Saturday a meeting was held with representatives of colleges on Friday and a decision would be taken soon.

Engineering colleges have demanded a hike similar to medical colleges whose demand for a 10% hike was approved by the Medical Education Department recently.