Cuttack: Orissa high court has directed the state govt to consider and dispose of the representation of a student from SCB Medical College on the review of the decision to conduct elections for postgraduate and undergraduate students union for 2024-25.
On Dec 3, the director of medical education and training (DMET) granted permission to conduct the election for the union after the dean and principal of SCB Medical College wrote a letter requesting the poll on Nov 18. On Dec 4, the dean and principal issued a notification for conducting the election and declaring the results within seven days.
Sriram Parida, a student of the college, filed a petition challenging the decisions of both DMET and the dean and principal. When the petition was taken up for hearing on Monday, petitioner's counsel, Biplaba Mohanty, contended that the direction to conduct the students' union election for 2024-25 within seven days was not in consonance with the Medical Council of India (MCI) Regulations, 2009, notified on Jan 18, 2010.
MCI regulations prescribe that all such elections are to be held annually between six and eight weeks from the date of commencement of the academic session. The current session of the medical college is scheduled to commence on Dec 20. "Hence, the decision of the DMET and dean and principal is liable to be interfered with," Mohanty further contended.
However, the bench of Justice R K Pattanaik disposed of the petition, giving liberty to the petitioner to submit a representation to the DMET regarding the students' union election. "In the event, the same is received within seven days from today, the same shall be entertained and disposed of as per and in accordance with the rules, keeping in view the Regulations, 2009," Justice Pattanaik added.