PGI quashes counselling session of PwD candidates

CHANDIGARH: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has quashed counselling for MD/MS seats for people with disability (PwD) after a candidate challenged it.

The first counselling was held on December 14 for the January 2019 session. However, the PGI officials issued a circular that stated “The counselling session has been quashed due to administrative reasons. Fresh counselling shall be held on January 9.”

In March this year, the Medical Council of India (MCI) had issued a circular to the secretaries (health and medical education) of all states and UT stating that 5% of annual sanctioned intake capacity was filled up by persons with benchmark disabilities in accordance with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, based on the merit list of national eligibility-cum-entrance test for admission to postgraduate medical courses.

However, the PGI had not provided this benefit to the candidates with disabilities other than that of the lower limbs.

“The contents of our prospectus has been challenged. We are willing to hear others and, therefore, decided to restart the counselling afresh. Also, once the seats are distributed in any category, a vacant seat is converted into a general category seat,” Dr Rajesh Kumar, PGI dean (academics) said, adding “Our prospectus has rules that have been approved, but there can be differences in interpretation. In case there is anything we have missed out, we shall abide by the rules.”

There are 610 seats, including general and reserved categories, for MD/MS candidates.

A delhi-based social activist group ‘Doctors with disabilities’ had shot a letter to Union minister of health and family welfare JP Nadda alleging that non-dominant upper limb was included as up to 60% for the admissions in the postgraduate courses in the medical colleges and institutions, but the PGI and JIPMER, Puducherry, were restricting these reservation benefits to candidates with disabilities other than that of lower limbs, in direct violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act.