Excess intake of 4 MBBS seats
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, July 28: Taking stringent action against the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu which had made a gross blunder by admitting 184 MBBS students against the actual intake capacity of 180 MBBS seats for the current academic year, National Medical Commission (NMC) has reduced 8 MBBS seats of the Medical College for the academic year 2023-24.
“The matter was discussed in the Coordination Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of NMC Chairman on July 13 and accordingly, the decision was taken to reduce 8 seats (double the number of excess intake of 4 seats) of the Medical College for the academic year 2023-24, as a punishment,” said a letter dated July 20, 2023 addressed to Principal and Dean, GMC Jammu, by Director of Undergraduate Medical Education Board (NMC), Shambu Sharan Kumar.
Through the medium of letter, Director of Undergraduate Medical Education Board, directed the Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu to investigate the matter and fix accountability/responsibility of person(s) responsible for the blunder, and submit an Action Taken Report in the matter to NMC within 15 days of issuance of this communication.
“If no response from GMC Jammu is received within the stipulated period of 15 days, the order of reduction of 8 seats for the academic year 2023-24 will remain effective to the academic year 2024-25 also,” read the letter.
The order of the NMC wherein it reduced 8 MBBs seats of GMC Jammu has came as a shocker to the authorities of GMC Jammu as well as MBBS aspirants as in upcoming academic session, only 172 students will get chance to do their undergraduate medical degree from the Medical College.
Meanwhile, sources in Health & Medical Education Department J&K told Excelsior that a committee headed by Director New Medical Colleges, Dr Yashpal Sharma has already been constituted by the Administrative Secretary Bhupinder Kumar to fix accountability in the matter and the Committee had also submitted its report.
“Based on the recommendations of the report of the Committee, action has already been taken against the then Head of the Institution who has been transferred and posted as Secretary (Technical) in Health and Medical Education Department,” sources said, adding the Action Taken Report will be submitted to NMC within the stipulated time frame.
Pertinently, Excelsior has exclusively reported in its May 12, 2023 edition that a gross blunder has been committed by authorities of GMC Jammu headed by the then Principal and Dean Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma by admitting 184 MBBS students against the actual intake capacity of 180 MBBS seats, thereby putting on stake the future of four students whose names had not been considered valid and legitimate on the website of NMC. It was mentioned in the report that NMC has taken a serious note of this blunder and may pass adverse strictures against GMC Jammu.