New MBBS eligibility norms not to impact Haryana students

CHANDIGARH: Students hailing from Haryana will not be affected by the new eligibility norms for MBBS in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, approved by the Punjab and Haryana high court's order on July 4.

Initially, parents were apprehensive and planning to move the Supreme Court. But on July 4, the Haryana government placed on its medical education and research department's portal that the dates for on-the-spot counselling have been extended until July 7.

The new eligibility criteria allows only those students under state /UT pool to be applicable who have passed class X, XI and XII from schools recognized by the UT administration. These students from Haryana who had not done Class X from Chandigarh have been given a second chance for on-the-spot counselling for the MBBS under state quota in Haryana. There are around 50 such students out of 150 from Haryana.

The on-the-spot registration was over on Sunday and the merit list is being prepared. Soon, the candidates in the list shall be called and asked for their choice of colleges in the state. The seat allotments shall take place subsequently. "These students have the chance to apply for their state's quota and also to join seats through all-India quota as its last date is until Monday," said Dr Bhavneet Goyal, who runs a coaching centre for MBBS aspirants in the city.

In August last year, a division bench of the high court led by Justice Mahesh Grover had held as arbitrary a condition that allowed students even from outside states to become eligible after passing Class XII examination from institutes recognized by the UT, without insisting on residence as an essential eligibility condition.