The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Medical Council of India to explain how moneyed persons who did not have the marks required to secure a medical seat in India were able to get admissions in foreign medical colleges and Universities.
In addition to this the court has also sought an explanation as to why the Council recognises these degrees awarded by foreign institutions.
Judge N Kirubakaran's directions came while hearing a petition filed by Thamarai Selvan who procured his medical degree from West Indies.
He petitioned the court to direct the Tamil Nadu Medical council to issue a certificate of provisional registration after considering his application dated February 13, 2017. This was in order to enable him to undergo the Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in any approved Medical College-Hospital in the State of Tamil Nadu. However, the judge kept the main petition aside and began focussing on the marks obtained by the petitioner.
Thamarai Selvan had obtained only 467 out of 600 or 77.8% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology in his class 12 exams. These marks, the judge claimed, would not have been enough to secure a seat in medical colleges in India. The cut off marks here, the judge stressed, were more than 190 out of 200 in these subjects. He then questioned how foreign universities admitted students with such less marks and why Indian universities recognised these degrees.
The Judge then suo motu impleaded Medical Council of India Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi; Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as respondents and directed them to reply to fourteen questions. This included a question on the number of medical graduates from foreign medical colleges who have gone through a screening test in India.