Mohali October 24:
It’s surprising but true. The MD Forensic Science degree being given out by the Government Medical College Amritsar for the past 23 years is not recognised by the Medical Council of India.
The degree has been awarded to over a hundred students since the starting of this course in 1985 but these students continue to hold degrees which have no validity. The students cannot apply for government jobs and also cannot teach in government medical colleges anywhere in India or abroad despite availability of jobs in the field.
The MCI’s inspection of the facilities being provided by the college to run this degree was conducted in August this year, 10 years after the last inspection was carried out in 1998. The council has, after the inspection, declared the college unfit to run the course. It has also asked the college not to admit students for the 2009- 2010 batch.
A host of old students who passed out from the college with this degree have approached the government to press upon the college to make efforts to get the degree recognised. “It’s a shameful chapter in the history of the Punjab government. No one bothered to get the MCI inspection done. We had to virtually force the college authorities to invite their team for an inspection. Former students had to even dole out Rs 5,000 each for the arrangements for the MCI’s visit,” alleged a former student.
“We were also told that the deficiencies pointed out by the MCI in its report of 1998 have been met and there is a very strong possibility of getting the course recognised, but nothing materialised,” added the student.
These students added that in case the MCI recognised the course even now, all former students stood to benefit as all degrees given out by the college over the years would be recognised. A similar course run by Government Medical College Patiala is recognised.
Despite the sorry state of affairs, no action has been taken against those responsible for the situation. “Why has no action been taken against the present principal of the college, Dr J Gargi, who is the head of the Forensic Science Department, and the present Director Research and Medical Education (DRME), Dr JS Dalal, who is also the state’s medico-legal adviser for years,” questioned a student.
The students have now written a number of communications to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Punjab Chief Minister to probe the whole matter. Dr Dalal said the course had never been recognised and the reasons were known only to the current principal. He, however, admitted that when he was the principal of the college, no MCI team visited the college.
Principal Gargi said the deficiencies pointed out by the MCI team were being removed. He denied that any money had been taken from the students for the inspection. “We are trying our best to get the degree recognised,” he said.
It’s surprising but true. The MD Forensic Science degree being given out by the Government Medical College Amritsar for the past 23 years is not recognised by the Medical Council of India.
The degree has been awarded to over a hundred students since the starting of this course in 1985 but these students continue to hold degrees which have no validity. The students cannot apply for government jobs and also cannot teach in government medical colleges anywhere in India or abroad despite availability of jobs in the field.
The MCI’s inspection of the facilities being provided by the college to run this degree was conducted in August this year, 10 years after the last inspection was carried out in 1998. The council has, after the inspection, declared the college unfit to run the course. It has also asked the college not to admit students for the 2009- 2010 batch.
A host of old students who passed out from the college with this degree have approached the government to press upon the college to make efforts to get the degree recognised. “It’s a shameful chapter in the history of the Punjab government. No one bothered to get the MCI inspection done. We had to virtually force the college authorities to invite their team for an inspection. Former students had to even dole out Rs 5,000 each for the arrangements for the MCI’s visit,” alleged a former student.
“We were also told that the deficiencies pointed out by the MCI in its report of 1998 have been met and there is a very strong possibility of getting the course recognised, but nothing materialised,” added the student.
These students added that in case the MCI recognised the course even now, all former students stood to benefit as all degrees given out by the college over the years would be recognised. A similar course run by Government Medical College Patiala is recognised.
Despite the sorry state of affairs, no action has been taken against those responsible for the situation. “Why has no action been taken against the present principal of the college, Dr J Gargi, who is the head of the Forensic Science Department, and the present Director Research and Medical Education (DRME), Dr JS Dalal, who is also the state’s medico-legal adviser for years,” questioned a student.
The students have now written a number of communications to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Punjab Chief Minister to probe the whole matter. Dr Dalal said the course had never been recognised and the reasons were known only to the current principal. He, however, admitted that when he was the principal of the college, no MCI team visited the college.
Principal Gargi said the deficiencies pointed out by the MCI team were being removed. He denied that any money had been taken from the students for the inspection. “We are trying our best to get the degree recognised,” he said.
