NEW DELHI : Stung by the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Centre’s petition on Thursday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday criticised the Medical Council of India (MCI) for using its autonomy to disallow admissions in defaulting medical colleges thereby shattering the dream of many aspirants to become doctors.
Dr Vardhan had tried to throw his weight behind MCI to allow admissions this year. The MCI, however, refused to review its orders and withdrew permission for admission to 46 medical colleges, including five government colleges, for their failure to fulfill the norms.
This resulted in fall of seats by 1,170 in the academic year 2014-15.
MCI defended its action on the ground that the colleges did not meet the standards.
Vardhan contested this by saying that the deficiencies listed by the MCI had been there for years.
Promising the aspirants that the medical seats will be restored, Vardhan said MCI needed a “human face” in the admission process.
MCI’s action is not going to affect college managements which will rectify the shortcomings to resume admissions next year. But the hopes of meritorious students were dashed because of less number of seats available this year, he said.
