State to seek more time from SC to fill 71 seats

MUMBAI: After taking the requests of parents and students into consideration, the state Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER) has decided to file a

MUMBAI: After taking the requests of parents and students into consideration, the state Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER) has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, seeking more time to fill up vacant seats in medical institutes.

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Parents in Mumbai are also planning to file another petition in court for the extension of dates in order to fill up 71 seats in medical and dental courses across institutes in the state.

DMER had filed its last petition in SC on October 6 for extension of dates to fill up vacant seats in all medical and dental institutes — government-run, private and deemed. The court allowed an extension of date by one day, only for the seats in the all-India quota in government colleges while the rest were declined. “With many seats remaining vacant in the state, it makes sense to fill them up. We’ll file a review petition in court on Tuesday,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, director of DMER.

According to figures shared by DMER, six seats have been left vacant in MBBS courses in government-run institutes, another 15 are vacant in a Dhule-based private medical and dental institute. Similarly, 40 seats have been left vacant in BDS courses of deemed institutes, taking the total number of vacant seats to 71.

Students have travelled from various parts of the state and country for the spot admissions for seats under the all-India quota in government medical and dental institutes. “We were in Jodhpur when the SC declared an extension and we reached Mumbai on October 7. My daughter has scored 497 in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and still didn’t get a seat. It’ll be unfair to let the vacant seats lapse,” said Shekhar Mehta, a parent from Jodhpur.

“Since the fee in deemed institutes is very high, many students have not confirmed admissions there and those seats have now been given to students who have scored low in NEET. Those who have scored above 400 are waiting,” said Rajesh Jain, state member for Parents’ Association for Medical Students (PAMS).

As of now, DMER is waiting to hear from the SC before deciding on the 71 vacant seats. “Without the court’s permission, we are helpless,” added Shingare.