'We may fall behind schedule': Clock ticks, September 5 deadline looms for 11,178 MBBS entrants in Bengal; counselling paused over OBC quota

KOLKATA: Bengal's 11,178 aspiring medical students, whose seat allotment lists were to be declared on Wednesday, are now staring at uncertainty with the state suddenly pausing counselling "till further orders". National Medical Commission's all-India admission schedule for MBBS and BDS (dental) leaves the state with just a fortnight to complete the counselling and admission process as academic session for UG courses start Sept 5, failing which NMC can refuse to recognise the degree and take action against the medical college.


The suspension of MBBS counselling late on Monday is a fallout of the legal impasse over OBC reservations that has put on hold all undergraduate admissions in Bengal this year, health officials said. State health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, without going into specifics, said the order was "due to issues pertaining in the court".

The 11,178 Bengal candidates who cleared NEET-UG belong to general and reserved categories, including OBC.

National Medical Council's guidelines say, "Any student identified as having obtained admission after the last date for closure of admission shall be discharged from the course of study, or any medical qualification granted to such a student shall not be recognized by NMC. The institution which grants admission... is also liable to face such action."

The 38 medical colleges here offer 5,850 MBBS seats; 3,850 are in 24 govt and 1,950 in 14 private colleges. For 613 BDS (dental) seats in six dental colleges in Bengal, 313 are in three govt and 300 in private colleges.

The counselling for MBBS and BDS began on July 31 and seat-allotment list after first round of counselling was to be out on Aug 20. Admissions was to be over by Aug 21-23. "The session begins with admission after the 1st round of counselling. We may fall behind schedule this time," said a principal.

Dipayan Ganguly, one of the 11,178 successful candidates said, "This suspension has put me under stress." Soumydip Roy of Aidso, which protested near Swasthya Bhawan, said, "We want to know the reason behind the suspension."