Odisha’s Rourkela Hi-Tech medical college students begin hunger strike

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rourkela, Dec 11:

The first year students of Odisha’s Rourkela based Hi-Tech medical college today started a fast-unto-death demanding alternate arrangements after the Supreme Court cancelled the admission of 100 MBBS students that had taken admission in the college in 2015-16.

Earlier in the day the students, along with some of their parents, held demonstrations in front of the Principal’s office.

“This is gross injustice being meted out to us for no fault of ours. If there is anyone to be held responsible, it should be the state government and the college authorities. How could we know the technicalities? Would any student or their guardian have put his time and money at risk, if they knew? We ask the authorities to make alternate arrangements for us, failing which we will die demonstrating here,” said a visibly upset student.

It may be mentioned here that the students had been on a relay-strike since past three days demanding favourable action by the college authorities.

They have been alleging that they are unable to get their university registration number since the Apex court cancelled their admission.

Adjudicating a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Medical Council of India (MCI) and Odisha government against the judgment of Orissa High Court, the Supreme Court, back in September this year had cancelled the admission of these students.

Besides, the court had also ‘set aside’ the interim order of the High Court that had been given in favour of Hi-Tech medical college in 2015 allowing the college authorities to admit students through an entrance test in violation of the Orissa Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2007.

Hi-Tech authorities had moved the High Court, challenging the MCI order disallowing admission in the MBBS and BDS streams citing lack of adequate infrastructure in the college.