MBBS admissions made at Institutional Level will still be cancelled once verification process is completed: NMC Issues Clarification

New Delhi: The Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that admission of students obtaining entry to the MBBS course via institute-level counselling will still be cancelled even if the details of such students are included in the NMC list.

Referring to the details of 1,04,891 students admitted to the MBBS course for the Academic year 2023-2024, NMC pointed out that even if the list includes the names of such students who were admitted at college/institution level in violation of the Commission's guidelines, their admission will still be cancelled at later stage once the verification of admission process is completed by NMC.

"In above context, it is informed that even though such students whose names are reflected in the final list of 1,04,891 admitted students in MBBS Course for the Academic Year 2023-24, the admissions will still be cancelled at later stage once the verification of admission process is completed by the NMC after receiving the details from Directorate General of Health Services, Govt. of India and all State Counselling Authorities in respect of admissions made at institutional / college level in MBBS Course for academic session 2023-24," NMC UG Board mentioned in a notice dated 08.01.2024.

With the NMC declaration, it has been clear as daylight that the MBBS students who were admitted to the medical colleges in Maharashtra via institute-level counselling, shall not be allowed to continue their studies as their admissions remain invalid. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the NMC list including the names of eligible MBBS candidates also included the names of around 140 MBBS students, who were admitted through institute-level counselling.

Also Read: Bombay HC upholds NMC's stand on institute-level counselling, denies relief to 2 MBBS aspirants

The inclusion of their names in the NMC list came as a huge relief for those students, whose admissions were earlier cancelled by NMC in October, last year.

Previously, NMC had clarified that the counselling agencies in the States and the Centre would fill up the seats in all the medical institutes through online counselling. 

The Commission had directed that the mode of counselling would be online even for the stray vacancy round in the Private Medical Colleges and no college/institute should conduct the counselling, including the stray vacancy round, in physical mode. Such a direction had been issued by the Commission to put an end to the issue of seat blocking in the medical colleges. 

However, despite such a direction issued by the Apex Medical Regulator, the Maharashtra State CET Cell on September 26, 2023, issued a notice to conduct the stray vacancy Round 2 and fill up the seats at Institute-level. Ultimately, the admission of such candidates was cancelled by NMC in October 2023.

Recently, issuing a notice on 18.12.2023, NMC informed about the details of students admitted for the MBBS course in India for the academic year 2023-2024 and their validity. The Commission asked the students, who were admitted to MBBS course in the academic year 2023-2024 and whose details are not reflected in the list, to contact the Directorate of Medical Education/ Counselling Authority urgently. NMC issued this notice after noting that the details of only 1,04,891 students admitted in this academic year have been uploaded on the portal and some of the colleges did not upload the same.

Now referring to the notice dated 18.12.2023, NMC UG Board has issued another notice and mentioned, "In continuation to the Public Notice dated 18th December, 2023, it has come to the notice of the National Medical Commission that details of 1,04,891 students admitted in MBBS Course for the Academic Year 2023-24 includes such students as well who were admitted at College/ Institutional level."

In the notice, NMC referred to the earlier directions issued by the Commission and the Supreme Court to ensure that counselling for UG and PG medical admission is conducted only via online mode.

"That vide letter dated 24.07.2023 addressed to the Principal Secretaries of all States/UTs and to the Director, DMEs of all States/UTs, NMC directed said authorities to make necessary arrangement for conducting the counselling (both UG and PG) in online mode, for all rounds including stray vacancy round in Private Medical Colleges, from the academic year 2023-24. It was further directed through said letter that the institutions/ colleges are not allowed to conduct counselling, including the stray vacancy round. Said direction was applicable to deemed universities as well by virtue of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s order in IA No. 132614 of 2022 in WP (C) No. 267 /2017," mentioned the NMC notice dated 08.01.2024.

"It is relevant to state that under Regulation 15 and 16 of Chapter –III of Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023, the designated authority to conduct UG MBBS counselling and further the manner of conduct of UG MBBS counselling is stipulated, according to which Government of India will appoint a designated authority for common counselling and further medical institute have been barred from admitting candidate to the Graduate Medical Education course in contravention of these regulations. In addition to above, a penalty provision is also stipulated for the colleges who will be found to be in violation of these regulations," the notice further added while referring to the Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023.

In respect of admission to MBBS courses, Regulation 15 of the GMER 2023 states, "Government to appoint a designated authority for common counselling – The Government of India will decide and notify the agency and method of counselling of all undergraduate seats."

Regulation 16 of GMER 2023 added, "The prohibition for any student seeking admission any other way than counselling – No medical institute shall admit any candidate to the Graduate Medical Education course in contravention of these regulations; Provided the Medical Institution granting admission to any student in contravention of these Regulations, shall be liable to be fined Rupees one crore or fee for the entire course duration, whichever is higher, per seat for the first time and for the second time of non-compliance, Rupees two crore or double the amount of fees for the entire course duration whichever is higher per seat, and for any subsequent non-compliance or continued contravention the Medical Institution shall be barred from granting admissions to any student from the next academic year; Provided further that such Student admitted in contravention of this mandate shall be discharged from the Medical College and double the number of seats shall be reduced for one or more years."

Referring to these rules and regulations and the fact that the names of students admitted via institute-level counselling was included in the NMC list, the Commission clarified that even though the names of such students are reflected in the final list of 1,04,891 students, their admissions will still be cancelled at later stage.

According to the NMC notice, the admission of such students will be cancelled once NMC completes the verification of the admission process after receiving the details from Directorate General of Health Services, Govt. of India and all State Counselling Authorities in respect of admissions made at institutional / college level in MBBS Course for academic session 2023-24.

To view the notice, click on the link below –

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/document-89-229582.pdf

Also Read: NMC relief to 140 MBBS students whose admissions were invalidated