SC rejects plea to extend time for admission to PG med courses

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea filed by an association of private medical and dental colleges in Chhattisgarh against the state high court's order rejecting its petition to extend time for admissions to PG and superspeciality courses.
A vacation bench comprising justices P C Pant and Deepak Gupta rejected the contentions of the association which said that the state had not conducted counselling within time and there was no proper publicity on lowering of cut-off marks for admission to PG courses.
The association told the apex court that due to the order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, a large number of seats were lying vacant which would result in wastage of seats.

The apex court, in its order, observed that seats remain vacant in medical colleges due to several reasons and schedule fixed by the Supreme Court, which was to be followed for admission to medical colleges, must be adhered to.
"Doctors are not willing to take admission in non- clinical courses especially in private colleges where fees are very high. In our view, the schedule must be strictly followed and we find no reason to extend the time," the bench said.
"This schedule, as approved by this court, must be followed to ensure that medical education standards are not lowered as per the schedule laid down...," it said.

The association of private medical and dental colleges of Chhattisgarh had approached the apex court against the high court's order.
The bench noted in its order that as per schedule fixed by the apex court earlier, the first round of counselling was to be completed from May 9 to 10 whereas the second round was to be completed from May 11 to 20. The last date for admission was May 31.