MP Govt shelves 'Vyapam-II' script in cabinet after ministers’ objections

Sravani Sarkar

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday almost scripted a Vyapam-II.

A proposal to allow the controversial Mumbai-based College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) to start postgraduate medical courses (certificate/diploma/fellowships) in state was placed before the state cabinet for approval.

However, it was shelved after some of the ministers reportedly raised serious objections to the proposal saying that it would further dent the image of MP Government reeling under Vyapam and DMAT (Dental and Medical Admission Test) scams.

A proposal was reportedly mooted to allow postgraduate medical courses of CPS to run in the state. However, the CPS has been in midst of huge controversy since year 2009 when the Medical Council of India (MCI) cancelled its recognition.

Later the Maharashtra Medical Council threatened not to register the medical graduates having postgraduate certificate, diploma or fellowship from CPS.

The College – registered as a non-profit educational organization under Maharashtra Charity aid Commissioner’s office - faces allegations of not complying with admission and academic norms. It does not conduct the required common entrance test (CET), takes indiscriminate fees and the institutes affiliated to it do not have requisite academic infrastructure, sources said.

Also it faces allegations of irregularities in examination and evaluation – apparently done without any third party scrutiny. Earlier this year, the Income Tax department served demand notices on the CPS indicating irregularities worth crores, added sources.

Speaking to NewsBits.in Vyapam whistleblower Dr Anand Rai said that the MP government again seemed to be paving away for monetary gains of some powerful people by bringing in such proposals.

 “There are so many questions about the CPS courses. Would they be correspondence courses? Which of the medical institutes in MP are being affiliated to this controversial organization? Do they have infrastructure required for PG medical courses? It is simply a way to mint money for some influential people. The very fact that such controversial proposal could reach the cabinet shows the intention of the government.”

Dr Rai said that he receives numerous complaints about the CPS taking heavy donations to give admissions. Also the Maharashtra Resident Doctors’ Association has demanded action against it, he said.