WB Univ of Health Sciences invites students from other states with domicile, against CM's directive
Kolkata: A recent notification issued by the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) regarding the medical counselling has triggered confusion among the state aspirants as it invited the participation of candidates from other states enjoying domicile B.
The notification seems to have violated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instructions as she had made a public statement a few days ago saying that her government would not allow outside candidates to study medical only by the virtue of possessing a domicile B certificate. Banerjee unequivocally made it clear that the candidates from Bengal would be given preference over those from other states for whom a certain number of medical seats used to be reserved. The WBUHS's notification apparently failed to chart a proper guideline on how the pre-counselling and counselling of medical and dental candidates would take place as many aspirants have alleged that the notice was written in a 'euphemistic' manner. A section of Bengal-based medical aspirants vehemently opposed the admission of outside candidates in 85 state quota seats in medical studies in the name of domicile B and demanded that the WBUHS must come up with a clear instruction and not allow candidates from other states as asserted by the Chief Minister.
Ashoke Adhikari, a guardian from West Midnapore, said: "Bengal candidates would be deprived if domicile B is implemented. We were much relieved after the Chief Minister's assurances but the health university issued a notification in contrary to her directive." According to sources in the state Health department, officials are saying that they are yet to receive any instructions from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is also in charge of the Health department.
The notification issued on June 21 says residential/domicile B certificates would be issued to candidates not residing in Bengal for the past 10 years as on December 31, 2018, but whose parent or parents are the permanent residents of the state.
All the medical aspirants across the country have to appear and clear the nationwide National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) before they secure admission in medical colleges. The Supreme Court, in a ruling, said a candidate cannot enjoy more than one domicile when the NEET is a single medical entrance examination.
It has often been found that candidates seek domicile B from the state government after failing to secure medical admission in their respective states. Candidates enjoy domicile A of a particular state if they have stayed there for 10 years. Candidates, who are entitled to get domicile B, are the residents of other states whose parents live in Bengal permanently.
Earlier this month, the Chief Minister had said her government would not issue domicile B certificates to students from other states henceforth, thereby not allowing them to study undergraduate medical studies in the government-run medical colleges in the state.
Dr A K Maity, a city-based doctor who had earlier written to the Chief Minister urging her not to issue domicile B to those candidates who come from other states, said: "Medical aspirants from Bengal heaved a sigh of relief after the Chief Minister announced that no outside candidates would be allowed admission in 85 percent state quota seats. But the health university has defied her instruction."
