Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 17: State medical education minister, Ramachandra Gowda, said that over 400 additional medical seats will be available in the government medical colleges of the state with effect from the next academic year. He was addressing a press conference here on Friday April 16.

“The number of seats allotted will go up at Mysore and Hubli medical colleges by 50 each. We also expect seats to go up as per the revised central norms. Compared to the current academic year, a 30% jump may be witnessed in the medical seats available,” he explained.

Gowda said that the seat sharing pact with the private colleges will continue as in the previous year. In the case of private colleges, the government quota seats will be 42%, whereas in the case of minority-administered colleges, the same will be 27%. Permission will be given for new medical colleges.  A few people based in Chennai and Hyderabad have expressed interest in opening medical colleges in the state. They are yet to apply formally, he narrated. He however, clarified that the government does not propose to open any new government medical colleges.

“In the government colleges, steps have been taken to improve basic infrastructure. Shortage of teaching staff is felt in these colleges. We have given permission for making direct appointments. Even when concessions in reservation norms are permitted, suitable candidates are not forthcoming. Counselling for government college seats will be conducted next week,” he added.

Gowda blamed Medical Council of India of acting autocratically with the single aim of closing down colleges. “Even the central government seems to have no control over it. It is very difficult to meet the conditions of the council. Its condition in respect of insisting on 25 acres of land for new colleges has been eased in respect of colleges coming up in cities. Its condition that there should a hospital before a college can be opened is also not justified,” Gowda opined.

The minister said that two judges have been appointed for fixing the fee structure for the professional courses as per the court verdict. Proposals to appoint Justice Narayan for medical courses and Justice Padmaraj for engineering courses, have been submitted to the Chief Minister, he disclosed. However, he said the government does not have control over the deemed universities and that he is not in a position to say anything about the admission of the government quota students in the colleges functioning under these universities.