While Deemed to be Universities and private universities continue to deny seats to students from weaker sections of society applying for medical courses, there is confusion now over which of these institutes has the right to exercise this option.
Among those identified by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) as universities in their own right are the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, K.L.E Academy of Higher Education and Research, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Yenepoya University, BLDE University, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara University(JSSU), Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education and Nitte University. Many of them have opted out of the Common Entrance Test (CET)conducted by the state government since this recognition came their way.
But students are now growing increasingly confused as according to the Medical Council of India (MCI) website many of these Deemed to be Universities are still governed by The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). The MCI website says the JSS Medical College, Mysore, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur and the Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur remain affiliated to RGUHS. “The MCI website lists only JNMC, Devaraj Urs, and Manipal universities as Deemed to be Universities and says the other institutes mentioned are under RGUHS," says Rajesh H.R., a medical seat aspirant.