Coming to the rescue of students of the crisis-hit Gian Sagar Medical College in Banur and Chintpurni Medical College in Pathankot, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered immediate steps to accommodate them in other similar institutions in the state, to ensure that they do not suffer as a result of the problems gripping these colleges.
Chief Minister, issuing instructions to the Departments of Medical Education and Research, and Health and Family Welfare during a review meeting, also directed the Medical Education and Research secretary to shift these students to other medical colleges at the earliest to enable them to complete their courses.
The move came a day after the banks takes ‘symbolic’ control of Gian Sagar Institute, its land and equipment, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the state government and Gian Sagar College management to hold talks.
Taking note of the ongoing court case regarding Gian Sagar Medical College, Capt Amarinder said that since the case could take a long time to be resolved, it was necessary to find ways and means of compensating the students for the loss of time incurred in the process.
He suggested special classes to prepare the students to take exams and move to the next year, according to a spokesperson.
Showing concern over the bleak future of the students in the wake of Gian Sagar logjam, Capt Amarinder asked the vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) Dr Raj Bahadur to hold a special exam of students to secure their future.
He also made it clear that no one would be allowed to jeopardize the careers of these students. Earlier, the department officials briefed the Chief Minister about the pathetic state of affairs in both these colleges, saying that the records were being fudged to get Medical Council of India (MCI) clearances and false paper trails of patients were being created at Gian Sagar.
The meeting was informed that BFUHS has already initiated proceedings for the de-affiliation of the Gian Sagar Medical College and the department of medical education for its de-recognition.
In case of Chintpurni Medical College, where classes have not been held for more than a year, Capt Amarinder stressed the need to facilitate completion of studies of the students through special measures to enable them to appear for exams at a suitable time.
He asked the department to look at initiating appropriate action against the college authorities for the mismanagement “which jeopardized the careers of so many students”.
It may be noted that the college has been asked by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to stop admissions for two sessions on account of the dismal state of affairs in the institution.