GDMCH to conduct practicals again

DEHRADUN: A five-day long tussle between MBBS students and the administration at Government Doon Medical College and Hospital came to an end on Friday with the college announcing that practicals would be re-conducted in January for students at the department of anatomy who flunked the previous practical examination.

Vijay Juyal, exam controller of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education (HNBMEU) University, which administers the college, confirmed to TOI that practical examinations would be reconducted.

Forty out of 52 students had failed their practical exams, with many of them falling only a mark or two short.

The students had staged a protest, alleging that the head of department had “deliberately flunked them due to personal grudges”.

Those who did not clear the practicals would have to repeat a year, a prospect which led to much agitation and agony among the students and their guardians ever since the result was declared on Monday by HNBMEU.

In June, 150 second year students had appeared for the annual examinations of which 52 had failed in theory as well as practicals. In August, these 52 students had appeared for the supplementary examinations.

While they passed the written test, 40 were held back in the practicals, with most of them being denied the passing grade by just one or two marks.

The university had formed a five-member committee to probe the matter.

The exams would now be conducted by four external examiners from outside the state. The vice chancellor of HNBMEU Hem Chandra has asked students to finalise a date between January 5 and 10 for the exams.