Delay in admissions to deemed institutes

MUMBAI: With the Supreme Court postponing the hearing on admissions to Maharashtra’s deemed medical and dental institutes by another day, students and parents are worried that the admissions process will get further delayed, pushing many students to drop an academic year.

While admissions to seats under government-run as well as private medical and dental institutes in the state are almost over, students are worried that by the time they get to claim vacant seats in these institutes as well as those in deemed institutes, it will be too late. “Many students are frustrated to an extent where they are planning to take a year’s drop and prepare for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) next year. All because of the indecisiveness of policy makers, students’ futures are in limbo,” said Anuradha Menon, a parent.

On Monday evening, the state Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) announced admissions to 50 newly approved seats at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion, for the MBBS course. “The aim is to finish whatever admissions we can before September 30. Since all other seats are still sub-judiced, we have no option but to wait for a final verdict before finishing the admissions process,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, DMER director.

Parents have also objected to the admissions process followed by some private colleges, once a seat is allotted.

The DMER has asked students to confirm admissions in institutes that they have been allotted. “We are not sure if transfer of admissions is possible post September 30, so we request students to stick to the allotted seats. Hopefully the verdict will be out before the deadline,” added Shingare.