Chintpurni crumbling: Last batch of MBBS students also wants out

Just days after 141 of its students were shifted out after a long legal battle, the Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital, Pathankot, has been hit by another crisis, which could perhaps be its last. The only batch of students left in the college has also moved court, demanding they be adjusted in recognised medical institutes.

The students shifted from the college and adjusted in nine other institutions were from Chintpurni’s first MBBS batch inducted in 2011-12. They had moved high court questioning the validity of their degrees in view of the college management’s failing to get recognition from the medical council of India (MCI). Now, 101 students, of the 2014-15 batch, are worried for the same reasons.

The junior students have told the high court that the MCI’s most recent inspection report, dated March 16, had found the college 100% deficient in terms of faculty. They also said their future was at stake as classes were not being held regularly and their practical experience was “nil” as the college hospital was defunct.

The students also told the court that Punjab National Bank was moving ahead with selling Chintpurni’s properties because the college had defaulted on the Rs 100-crore loan for setting up the campus. They even provided as evidence a letter written by the bank to Pathankot deputy commissioner, asking him to take possession of the college campus. The students said the bank had also approached MCI, asking them to shift students from the college so that the campus property could be taken over.

The batch of 101 students was inducted after three years as Chintpurni struggled to get MCI permission for admissions. It was also the last as the college has yet to be allowed further admissions due to MCI’s adverse reports.

The high court, which heard the petition on April 22, directed the state government, the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, which governs the state’s medical colleges, and the MCI to file their replies by the next hearing on April 26.

College trouble

A year after being set up, college was allowed to admit 150 MBBS students. 141 joined in 2011-12 batch.

College failed to get due recognition for 2012-13 and 2013-14 sessions due to deficiencies in facilities

In 2014, 141 students moved court to be shift out. The college was , however, granted permission to enrol second batch in 2014-15 after intervention by Supreme Court

The college was again denied permission for admissions in 2015-16 session

In March, 2015, 141 students were finally adjusted in nine other medical colleges.