HYDERABAD : The Medical Council of India (MCI) has cancelled the admissions of several medical students belonging to the handicapped, NRI and NCC quotas saying that their admissions were against rules. 

These medicos have almost completed their first year MBBS in government and private medical colleges and the MCI move has come as a major blow to them. 

The NTR University of Health Sciences discharged 23 such students this month following the MCI observation that they did not get required marks in the qualifying Eamcet exam. 

Students are distressed as they have lost a whole year and their dreams of a bright future have been shattered. 

In February 2008, MCI had asked all government and private medical colleges to discharge first year MBBS students who were admitted despite having scored marks below the prescribed limit. The state government tried to plead their case but the MCI was not convinced.

The NTR University of Health Sciences Registrar, Prof. T. Venugopal Rao, said as per the MCI specifications the candidates should have scored 50 per cent marks together in both intermediate and Eamcet. It is 40 per cent for SC/ ST and BC 
categories. 

“Till 2007-08 we recruited candidates without following the norm of 50 per cent minimum marks in Eamcet but now the MCI is insisting on the rule,” he said. 

“We have paid Rs 86,000 as fee,” said the parent of a physically handicapped student. “This is unfair.” A student of GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry, who was admitted under PHC category was discharged after she studied for an year.

Students and their parents are shuttling between the medical colleges and the university at Vijayawada with the hope of reviving the orders but in vain. 

One of the parents of the students said, “The clause was not mentioned in the university rule book.” There are at least 12 physically handicapped and NCC students who lost their admission. Even NRI students had paid lakhs of rupees as donation under management category.