Education crisis: Punjab govt sets in motion process for closure of Chintpurni Medical College

Punjab medical education secretary Vikas Partap said the notice was issued keeping in mind gross deficiencies in college functioning found during the department’s inspections in November last year and March this year.

After the Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Banur, the Punjab government has now set in motion the process to close the Pathankot-based Chintpurni medical college by serving a show-cause notice on it.

Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Banur(HT File Photo)

The government on Wednesday directed the college management, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Swaran Salaria, to respond within seven days as why “essentiality certificates” issued in 2010 to set up the college and starting its medical courses should not be withdrawn. The notice says the state will take the responsibility of students already enrolled in the college if permissions are withdrawn.

Salaria was recently in the news when he announced to take over Gian Sagar college but backed out later.

“If no satisfactory response is received, the department of medical education will immediately withdraw all permissions to the college,” read a seven-page notice, copy of which is with HT.

Punjab medical education secretary Vikas Partap said the notice was issued keeping in mind gross deficiencies in college functioning found during the department’s inspections in November last year and March this year. Sources said the chief minister’s office (CMO) and the attorney general were in the loop before the notice was served.

The college with an annual intake of 150 MBBS students has a total strength of 300. Of these, 150 students enrolled in the 2014-15 session are already fighting a legal battle in the Punjab and Haryana high court demanding they be shifted to other medical college.

Another batch was admitted in the 2016-17 session.

What inspection report says

The notice enclosed two inspection reports dated November 18, 2016 and March 14, 2017. The latest report says that no administrative staff, including the principal, were available during inspection and the faculty list was not provided either.

It says there were fewer patients in the outpatient department (OPD) as against 171 patients in the register as figure was inflated. “Not even a single patient was admitted in IPD ward. Even the emergency ward register had just one post-surgery patient. The laboratories, blood bank and radio diagnosis department wore a deserted look,” the report says.

Problems in the past

Starting with 150 students in 2011-12, college fails to get fresh batches in 2012-13 and 2013-14 due to anomalies

In 2014, first-batch students move court demanding they be shifted out of college, even as it was granted nod to enroll second batch in 2014-15 after apex court intervenes

In 2015-16, MCI derecognises college; debars it from admitting students

In April 2016, first-batch students shift out of college; second-batch students also move HC demanding same

Two inspections by Punjab government in six months find anomalies

It stated the management did not take any action despite assurances to the state government and the Supreme Court-appointed committee led by Justice RM Lodha to improve college’s infrastructure as per the Medical Council of India (MCI) norms.

Gross anomalies? Issues show-cause notice, sets one-week deadline to respond as why permissions to set up college should not be withdrawn