MCI terms their degrees invalid
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 12: The students from J&K and other parts of India studying in medical institutions located in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (PoJKL) will not be able to practice modern medicine in India as the board of governors in supersession of Medical Council of India (MCI) has said that any qualification obtained from illegally occupied Indian Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will not be recognized by it.
In an order issued on Aug 10, Secretary-General of MCI, Dr R K Vats said : “This is to inform all concerned that the entire territories of UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India. Pakistan is in the illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the territory.”
The order further read that any medical institution in PoJKL requires permission/ recognition under Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. Such permission has not been granted to any medical college in PoJKL. “Therefore, any qualification obtained from any Medical Colleges located in these occupied areas of India shall not entitle a person for grant of registration under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 to practice Modern Medicine in India,” the order adds.
Pertinent to mention here that many students from J&K in the past went to Pakistan and its illegally occupied Indian territories to study medicine, several of them on the recommendations of separatist leaders and there is a special quota for J&K students reserved by the Pakistan Government. Several students are still studying in medical institutions located in PoJKL.
Last year in May, India’s higher education regulator– University Grants Commission (UGC) had asked students across India not to take admission in colleges and universities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The UGC had warned students underlining institutions in PoK are neither established, nor have the approval of the Indian state.
Similarly, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) too had asked students especially from Jammu and Kashmir to not seek admission there. This came as some two dozen students from J&K were exploring the possibility of taking admission in PoK institutions.
“PoJK is an integral part of India. The educational institutions including universities, medical colleges, technical institutions situated in PoJK are neither established by the Indian Government nor recognized by statutory authorities including UGC, AICTE and Medical Council of India,” UGC secretary Rajnish Jain had said in an advisory.
“The students are therefore cautioned and advised against taking admission in college, university or technical institution in any territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan, including the so called AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Gilgit Baltistan which are currently not recognized in India,” he had added.
In June this year also, the AICTE, in a public notice, published in local dailies here, had cautioned the students of J&K and Ladakh about “unapproved technical institutions” operating in PoK.
“PoJK is an integral part of the Union of India and the educational institutions including universities, medical colleges, and technical educational institutions situated in PoJK are neither established by Government of India nor recognized by statutory authorities such as UGC, AICTE and MCI etc,” read the notice issued by Member Secretary, AICTE.
The notice had advised the students not to take admission in any college, university or technical institution for courses in engineering and technology, architecture, town planning, pharmacy, hotel management and catering technology, applied arts, crafts and design, management, computer applications and travel and tourism.
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