Fake Permission letter scam continues: NMC clarifies on fake letter claiming MD, MS seats increase at Maharajah Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi: Through a recent public notice, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued yet another clarification on the fake/ forged Letters of Permission (LoP) issued to Maharajah Institute of Medical Sciences.
In its recent notification, the NMC has warned against the fake LoPs claiming an increase of PG medical seats in 9 MD and MS specialities at the institute including– MS Orthopaedics from 08 to 16, MS ENT from 02 to 06, MD General Medicine from 15 to 26, MS OBG from 10 to 16, MD Respiratory Medicine from 02 to 05, MS Ophthalmology from 03 to 06, MD DVL from 05 to 10, MS General Surgery from 10 to 26 and MD Paediatrics from 08 to 16 for the academic year 2023-24.
Earlier, for MD/MS seats at Maharajah Institute of Medical Sciences, the apex medical regulator issued a separate clarification regarding the fake LoP which claimed an increase of seats in MD Radio Diagnosis from 15 to 24 seats and in MD Anaesthesiology from 04 to 18.
NMC Clarification:
However, now another fake LoP is making rounds prompting NMC to put out a public notification clarifying that no application requesting an increase of seats in MS Orthopaedics, MS ENT, MD General Medicine, MS OBG, MD Respiratory Medicine, MS Ophthalmology, MD DVL, MS General Surgery and MD Paediatrics seats was received from Maharajah Institute of Medical Sciences, hence no permission was granted.
“It has come to the notice of Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of National Medical Commission that nine forged/fake letters have been issued to Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram for increase of seats in MS- Orthopaedics from 08 to 16, MS-ENT from 02 to 06, MD-General Medicine from 15 to 26, MS-OBG from 10 to 16, MD-Respiratory Medicine from 02 to 05, MS- Ophthalmology from 03 to 06, MD-DVL from 05 to 10, MS-General Surgery from 10 to 26 and MD- Paediatrics from 08 to 16 for the academic year 2023-24 whereas no application was received from the Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram for Increase of seats in the above courses for the academic year 2023-24 and hence, no communication was sent to the college in this regard from MARB, NMC,” the notification read.
Clarifying that these LOPs have not been issued by the NMC board, the commission stated,
“It is clarified that the above said letters have not been issued by the Member/President, MARB. These letters are forged/fake and cannot be considered as a valid permission from Medical Assessment and Rating Board, National Medical Commission.”
“The above facts are brought to the notice of all concerned and general public to not take any action based on the fake/forged letter. Appropriate action is being taken in the matter in accordance with the law,” the NMC further warned.
NMC Warning against Fake LoP scam:
This clarification comes a day after the NMC released the list of 1275 approvals given to medical colleges detailing the types of their applications and the total number of approved MBBS, PG medical and Super Speciality (SS) seats to break off the guesswork around how many institutes have been approved this academic year with respect to new courses, increase in intake capacity or renewal of seats they applied for. According to the list, the NMC MARB has given 1275 approvals for 51532 MBBS seats and 7582 PG medical and Super Speciality seats across 70 specialities to medical colleges this academic year 2023-24.
Over a week ago, the apex medical commission unearthed this recent scam wherein some unscrupulous elements are issuing and circulating fabricated information in the name of the NMC by way of forged letters of permission and renewal (LoPs and LoRs) to various medical colleges across the country amidst NEET and NEET PG counselling.
Thus, the NMC has been constantly alerting the concerned stakeholders, medical institutions as well as the general public, against such spoofed information urging them to not take any action based on forged LoPs and urged them to move the NMC board if any discrepancies are found in this matter.
The apex medical commission has also put out a stern direction for medical education bodies in all states and UTs to follow.
As per the recent NMC directive, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) in all states and UTs must fill the MBBS, PG medical and Super Speciality (SS) seats as per the information available on the NMC website only. In addition, the NMC also advised the concerned stakeholders, medical institutions as well as the general public, to not take any action based on the information from any other source except the NMC website.
Till now, the NMC has released four clarifications on such fake permission and renewal letters being issued on behalf of the Member/President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC to - GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry, Maharajah lnstitute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram, Santhiram Medical College, Nandyal, Meenakshi Medical College, Kanchipuram, and Santhiram Medical College, Kurnool.
Therefore, in an attempt to curb forgery, now all LoPs, CoRs and appeal orders issued by the NMC will contain digital signatures of the respective boards as a mark of authority.
Read Also: Now all NMC Permission, Recognition letters, Appeal orders to have Digital Signatures
