Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has refused to regularise the admissions of four postgraduate medical students who were admitted illegally at Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangaluru and KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia. The Court also directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to initiate appropriate action against both institutes.
Students’ Challenge to KEA Notice
The matter reached the High Court after four students — from Thrissur, Kolhapur, Thiruvallur, and Bengaluru — filed petitions challenging a March 11, 2024 communication from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The KEA had declared their admissions invalid under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023 (PGMER).
Colleges’ Justification of Admissions
Kanachur Institute argued that it had surrendered two seats in Radiology and Orthopaedics to KEA but, since the petitioners were not considered during counselling, they admitted them directly. For Pathology, the college claimed the admission was against a vacant seat. KVG Medical College said its MS (Orthopaedics) seat was allotted after a last-minute cancellation by another candidate.
Allegations of Misleading the Court
However, the Department of Medical Education (DME) contested these claims, stating that Kanachur had indeed submitted a letter on October 30, 2023, surrendering two seats but later withdrew it after affixing the seal. The DME accused the college of misleading the court with a false affidavit about seat surrender.
Court Observations
The High Court bench noted that Kanachur had indeed filed a false affidavit, misrepresenting the surrender of seats. It further reiterated that no postgraduate admission could be regularised unless made through the official counselling process, thereby invalidating the students’ claims for relief.
NMC Asked to Act Against Colleges
Concluding the matter, the Court directed the NMC to take necessary action against both Kanachur Institute and KVG Medical College for admitting students outside the counselling system. The order underscores the judiciary’s firm stance against irregularities in medical education admissions in Karnataka.
