List of candidates for MBBS counselling ready; Union government's nod awaited

Chennai: The Directorate of Medical Education has prepared a list of students for vacant medical seats in the State after the counselling deadline on April 11. However, the approval is yet to be received from the Union Health Ministry to allow for extension of deadline for the counselling.

The selection committee with the Directorate of Medical Education is seeking approval of Union Government for extending the deadline in order to fill 24 medical seats in government medical college hospitals and 18 seats, including 4 government quota and 14 management seats, in self-financing colleges.

The total number of 7,218 seats were allocated during four phases of counselling in the State. The Central Counselling Commission which conducts the process for government medical college hospitals is yet to return the 24 vacant seats so that the permission to conduct counselling for those seats is sought. The seats are vacant from the 15 per cent all India quota seats surrendered to the Centre.

Meanwhile, a government order will have to be issued by the government to allow the counselling for 18 seats in self-financing colleges as no such provision is available currently.

"We will be able to complete the process of counselling within a week's time as the list of candidates has been already prepared. But since the deadline got over, the seats are vacant. I am seeking the approval and if the GO is also passed, all the vacancies can be filled in within a week's time," said Dr P Vasanthamani, secretary of selection committee at the Directorate of Medical Education.