Capitation fee scam is now passé. Another blatant violation of the norm by medical colleges has come to light on Friday: Medical colleges offering PG degree with no hospital facility.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered attachment of such private dental colleges to government hospitals where students of the PG courses could carry on with their practicals.
Counsel Gaurav Sharma, who represented Dental Council of India (DCI) in the apex court, appealed withdrawal of permission to one such college at Sri Ganganagar, Surendra Dental College and Research Institute, for admissions in post-graduation courses. Gaurav Sharma cited lack of a valid tie-up with any hospital as ground for the action against the college.
He argued that PG courses being more practical-oriented, the colleges not being attached to a hospital is bound to impede the studies of the students. This will in turn result in the poor quality of education in such colleges.
The college produced permission of the health department of Rajasthan to attach itself to the government hospital. The letter of permission is dated May 26, 2009.
Drawing attention of the court to the fact that another private college in town is attached to the same government hospital, the counsel said, "In the larger public interest, it is not appropriate to attach two dental colleges for the purpose of clinical training with a government hospital as the same would definitely deteriorate the standards of dental education," DCI said.
Returning the permission letter to the college's counsel, The Supreme Court remarked that it appears to be just taken out of the minister's pocket.