HC scraps 145;grace146; seats for doctors

The order came on a petition filed by six students from Karamsad Medical College, challenging the university8217;s controversial action. Only 20 of the examinees secured the minimum cut-off of 50 per cent in the examinations held on April 19. In a bid to fill 260 seats of the PG medical courses, the university decided to give grace marks to those who had failed the exams, in violation of the Medical Council of India rules.

8216;8216;The MD degree has been made cheap and this cannot be permitted. Rather, the cut-off marks should have been increased as these people will be entrusted with the lives of others,8217;8217; Justice K.S. Jhaveri said. The court added that if the students and the university are so keen on filling the seats, the failed students could request for a second test. The 20 students who passed the exam will not be affected by the order.

The six students of Karamsad College had moved the HC on Tuesday, fearing they wouldn8217;t be given admissions. When they got their admissions the same day, they sought the permission of the court to withdraw their petition. However, the court refused the prayer and went ahead with the case.