Kerala oppn stages walkout over medical admission stalemate

Congress-led UDF opposition members in Kerala Assembly on Thursday staged a walkout over stalemate in the admission process for medical stream courses in self-financing medical colleges as government maintained the issue would be sorted out within a week.

Congress-led UDF opposition members in Kerala Assembly on Thursday staged a walkout over stalemate in the admission process for medical stream courses in self-financing medical colleges as government maintained the issue would be sorted out within a week.

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Replying to a notice for an adjournment motion on the matter by V D Sateeshan (Congress), Law Minister M Vijayakumar said the delay in starting the option and allotment process was due to recent derecognition of certain private medical colleges by the Medical Council of India.

However, recognition has been received for two out of 11 self-financial medical colleges and the state government was in touch with MCI for the recognition of two more, he said.

Recognition for some medical colleges for ayurveda, homoeopathy, sidha and dental were also pending, he said.

The government expected a decision on these colleges within a week, he said, adding it had time till September 30 for completing the admission process.

Admission to five government-run and two co-operative run medical colleges were progressing in right direction, he said.

After the reply of Vijayakumar, Speaker K Radhakrishnan refused to admit the motion, protesting which UDF members walked out of the House led by its leader Oommen Chandy.

Disputing the government's submission, Sateeshan said there was no basis for the argument that MCI was responsible for the delay in admission process.

The government's ineptness in handling the process was to be blamed for the present situation in higher education sector, Sateeshan said, adding the crisis had led to students from Kerala going to neighbouring states for admission.

He also alleged that the government gave undue advantage to those self-financing medical colleges that singed agreement with the government.

Criticising the government's policy on self-financing professional institutions, Chandy said even after four years in office LDF was not able to resolve the issues concerning admission and fees structure.