Hundreds of medical aspirants were not allowed to attend COMED-K counselling on Friday for not getting their original demand drafts. The students alleged that they could not get the DD as the college informed them late and Friday was a bank holiday.
The Times of India reported that it was the last day of counselling which was held at NMKRV College for Women. Many BDS and MBBS aspirants were to attend a special counselling for medical and dental seats in Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences, Tumakuru, and Sambhram Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kolar Gold Fields.
Chinthana H, 19, said, “We received a message at around 5.30 pm on Thursday which stated that tomorrow (Friday) will be the last date of counselling. They did not mention anything about the demand draft or the cash. When we went this morning, they said only people who have a demand draft will be allowed inside the centre. All the banks were closed today, so we had to go home.”
The students were distraught that even candidates with lower ranks were allowed for counselling and students with high ranks of 15,000 were stopped.
They alleged that there was no guidance issued by the college, and instead they were sent back home if they failed to produce the original documents.
"No one came to help us, they did not even talk to us properly. They did not tell us when to come back. We have no idea what to do now. The only option we have is to wait for their message again. They asked for demand draft and original certificates when it is not even required,” said Nagaraj, father of Chinthana.
However, Directorate of Medical Education in their circular, issued on Sept 29, said that original documents should not be demanded from students who get late admissions (due to late counselling) and students who get seat allotments on September 30 may pay admission fees through cash as September 30 is a bank holiday.
The Hindu quoted Sachidananda S., Medical Education Director, saying “But we had to ask COMEDK to stick to the rules, and candidates who had demand drafts were able to pick seats,” he said.
COMEDK officials however responded reportedly saying that the State government informed them about the seats late on Wednesday night.
“With such short notice, we even asked the State government to conduct online counselling through the Karnataka Examinations Authority, but they refused,” a COMEDK official said.
However, COMED-K executive secretary Dr S Kumar said that the students were informed in July through their website that a demand draft would be compulsory, Bangalore Mirror reported.
“We had more than 250 students, who had their original documents and also a DD. We were in a dilemma about whom to consider. We went with the notification and allowed only those who had the demand drafts and sent back students who came up with cash. We also had a discussion with the Directorate and they told us to stick to the procedure. Although the banks were closed today, the students should have been prepared,” he said.