Telangana: Increase in seats of Deccan College of Medical Sciences may not come

MCI has reportedly rejected the application by Deccan College of Medical Sciences (DCMS) asking for an increase in the MBBS seats at the college.

DCMS had earlier filed an application for increasing the intake from the existing 150 to 200 seats.

However, the situation went upside down after the report by MCI assessors, who claim there are several deficiencies noted in the college, as per the MCI prescribed norms.  In addition, it has also decided to issue a show-cause notice to the college over the matter. The matter has now become very serious as the MCI team is now questioning the college authorities as to why they should not withdraw recognition even for the existing course at DCMS.

The proposed increase of 50 seats by DCMS was for the 2016-17 session, and has now been completely refuted by the MCI after certain observations made by the inspection team, who visited the college on January 21 and 22. It has been alleged that the Deccan college fails eligibilty rules, such as not complying with the norms relating to faculty and other departments.

The appointed MCI assessors have submitted the report to the executive committee of the MCI, which later decided to reject the application by DCMS.

As reported by Deccan Chronicle, It said: "The applicant college does not meet the qualifying criteria 6(a)(ii), 6(a)(iii) and 6(a) (iv) of opening of new or higher courses of study or training (including postgraduate course of study or training) and increase of admission capacity in any course of study or training.

"OPD (out patient department) attendance, bed occupancy and unitary campus are not as per the (specifications), the executive committee of the Council has decided to return the application for increase in MBBS Seats from 150 to 200 at DCMS Hyderabad under NTR University of Health Sciences under section 10A of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 for academic year 2016-17 recommending disapproval of the scheme to the central government as there is no provision under section 10A of the Act or the regulations framed therein to keep the application pending in the council office for the next academic year."

It decided to invoke its powers under clause 8(3)(1)(c) of Establish-ment of Medical College Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2010 and serve a show-cause notice.

For this, it quoted the rule: "It is observed during any regular inspection of the institute that the deficiency of teaching faculty and/or residents is more than 10 per cent and/or bed occupancy is less than 80 per cent. Such an institute will not be considered for processing applications for postgraduate courses in the academic year and will be issued show-cause notices as to why the recommendation for withdrawal of recognition of the courses run by that institute should not be made for undergraduate and postgraduate courses which are recognised under section 11(2) of the Act along with direction of stoppage of admissions in permitted postgraduate courses."

When contacted, a senior official from DCMS who wished not to be quoted said: "We are in the process of rectifying all the deficiencies." The principal and CEO of DCMS said that only managing director of DCMS, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, was authorised to speak on the issue.