BENGALURU: In a relief to Karnataka MBBS aspirants, the Supreme Court has paved the way for addition of 150 seats during the second round of
UGNEET counselling, by ordering that the governmentrun
Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences can continue to admit students for 2018-19.
The college had been denied permission by the
Medical Council of India (MCI) to enrol students this year, citing certain shortcomings in the institution, including the staff strength.
After the
Karnataka high court refused to stay the MCI order, the state government filed a special leave petition before the SC. The apex court cited similar cases of government medical colleges in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar being permitted after taking an undertaking from the principal secretary of the respective state governments that stated deadlines will be met in rectifying the deficiencies.
In June 2018, Karnataka had lost 2,410 MBBS seats, including those in four government medical colleges, four private medical colleges and eight new medical colleges. The colleges had challenged MCI’s decision in court. Recently, St John’s Medical College got a go ahead from the ministry of health and family welfare to enhance its MBBS intake from 60 to 150.
V Manjula, additional chief secretary told TOI that Koppal medical college’s 150 UG medical seats will be added to the state government quota in the second round of counselling at Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).