Supreme Court stays admission in 150 medical seats

Bhubaneswar: Uncertainty looms over the future of 150 medical students of the State after the Supreme Court has ordered a stay on the admissions in Hi-Tech Medical College & Hospital, Rourkela and Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar (KIMS).

The apex court has ordered a stay on admissions conducted for 100 seats of Hi-Tech Medical College & Hospital, Rourkela while directing the Medical Council of India (MCI) to review the status of the college and submit a report.
The verdict of the Supreme Court came after MCI moved the Supreme Court following the verdict of Orissa High Court.

Earlier, the Hi-Tech Medical College, Rourkela, had moved the HC challenging the MCI order disallowing admission in the MBBS and BDS streams this year citing lack of adequate infrastructure.

Similarly, the apex court has also ordered a stay on the admissions in 50 seats of KIMS.

Educationist Pritish Acharya commenting on the matter said, “Both the government as well as the court always try to be lenient when students are involved. However, as the admissions have already been done, the extent of leeway that the court can grant remains to be seen. In this case, the students will be sufferers.”

Recently, the Odisha government decided to file three special leave petitions (SLPs) in the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the admission of students in MBBS courses this year at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Rourkela.

Moreover, the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) authorities have filed another SLP in the apex court as the Hi-Tech Medical College authorities did not call AIPMT rank holders for admission and conducted a special entrance test on its own without informing the OJEE, the sources added.

In case of KIMS, while the institution was given permission to admit only 100 students due lack of infrastructure. However, the High Court had ordered admissions in another 50 seats which has been stayed by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, comments of the authorities of both colleges on the court order could not be obtained.