Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 12

Following an indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned, MBBS students of the Government Medical College (GMC) continue to demand extension of library timings in order to prepare for the upcoming examinations.

Students demanded that they should have 24x7 excess to the library.

Notably, the medical college authorities, last month, had issued a circular wherein timings of the library were changed from midnight to 9 pm for undergraduate while up to 11 pm for postgraduate students.

However, MBBS students have already written to the college principal requesting him to open the college library round the clock. They cited GMC, Amritsar, where students had 24x7 access to the library.

Meanwhile, the college authorities said time restrictions were imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.

On the other hand, students claimed that majority of the medical colleges in the state and in the country have given students 24-hour access to the library.

One of the MBBS students, said, “Despite the fact that we have exams starting next month, the college authorities reduced the library timings. If not 24x7, they should, at least, allow us to study until midnight in the library.”

Another student said, “The decision can affect our preparations because we have got a habit of studying in the library. Therefore, it is difficult to study in the hostel.”

Meanwhile, Dr Rajan Singla, Principal, Government Medical College, Patiala, said, “The decision of limiting library hours was taken after it came to our notice that students were not following Covid precautions. They don’t wear face masks in library.”