Made in China MBBS is valid, rules High Court

Feb10, 2014

Court allows two candidates who have obtained medical degree from Zhengzhou University, China to appear for post graduation CET exam; a relief for the many students who have Chinese degrees

The Medical Council of India (MCI) had screened their MBBS degree and accepted it. But two doctors from Gulbarga were in for a shock last year when the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) refused to let them write the PGCET. Reason: their MBBS degrees were 'Made in China.'

Fearing similar rejection this year, the candidates -- Dr Mohammed Mudassir, 24, and Dr Mohd Azharuddi, 25 -- desperate to do the exam for their MD course, not only got eligibility certificates from the RGUHS but also approached the Karnataka High Court to permit them to take exams. What went in their favour this time was that the National Board of Examination (NBE) , which has been empowered to conduct the exam this year, amended a rule where students from not only national universities recognised by them, but also other universities recognized by the MCI, could take the exam.

The case has turned out to be an eye-opener for all those who have Chinese degrees. Of late, there has been a trend for Indian students to head to the neighbouring nation, because of ease of admission and cheaper tuition.

Advocate for the candidates, Kannur G S, told Bangalore Mirror: "Before pursuing the medical course from the Zhengzhou university in China, both of them followed all the guidelines set by the MCI. They had received necessary approvals from the MCI before starting their course there. Even after the completion of the course, they had cleared screening test of MCI which is mandatory. However, when they tried to appear for the post graduation course, the authorities in the state denied them a chance to appear. We had to approach the court in a short span of time and the High Court judgment has given them a real respite. After the High Court direction they have received the hall ticket on Saturday and they are appearing for the exam on Tuesday and Wednesday."

The government pleader had told the court that the eligibility condition prescribed, as per the earlier rules, that the candidate should be from a university within India and recognised by MCI and that the candidate should be of Karnataka origin and should have studied in Karnataka. But during court proceedings, RGUHS counsel N K Ramesh told the court that if an eligibility certificate has already been issued by RGUHS, there would be no objection to them taking the exams. Sandesh Chouta, the advocate for the National Board of Examination, too, told the court that it is the state government that has to take a call on eligibility or otherwise, and the NBE only conducts the examination.

The court, in its order, held that RGUHS would have scrutinised the eligibility before giving them eligibility certificates. Allowing them to take the exams, Justice Anand Byra Reddy pronounced, "Therefore, even if the petitioners should be denied admission, other than on the ground that the petitioners do not possess the eligibility certificates of Rajiv Gandhi University, it would not be a good reason to prevent the petitioners from taking the examination and therefore the petitioners, without any further orders of this court, shall be permitted to take the examination."

Azharuddin told Bangalore Mirror: "We are very happy that the court has come to our aid." They had to approach the HC as the exams were scheduled to start from February 11. The two doctors were apprehensive that in the last minute they may be denied admission tickets and since there were two holidays just before the deadline, they may miss out on writing the entrance exams.


Courtesy sourced: Bangalore Mirror