Chennai: “Round 2 is your next chance. Pre-book your MBBS seat,” flashes a social media advertisement, replete with a phone number—a pitch that aims to circumvent the regulated medical-admissions process.
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“We were told we can try other colleges in the third or subsequent rounds if we don’t make it this time,” said R Elangovan, whose nephew is seeking admission this year. When TOI called the number on their Instagram ad, someone from the “admissions department” of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital said admission could be secured in one of two medical colleges under the university—at Perambalur or Samayapuram. “Bring your NEET admit card and scorecard to the college for further discussion,” he said. Medical college dean Dr V Visvanathan, however, said the advertisements had been issued by consultants hired by the management. Admissions to our colleges are done by the central counselling committee,” he said. National Medical Commission chairman Dr Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth earlier told TOI that it was illegal for any institution to solicit or admit students directly. Admissions done outside this process would be cancelled with action initiated against the institution, he said. “They could create the impression that seats can be secured outside the merit-based system,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam.
Several private medical institutions hold discreet on-campus consultations, offering scholarships, fee discounts and other incentives, parents say. Candidates are asked to enter their names in a register and lock choices only for medical colleges affiliated with the university in the upcoming counselling round. Now, institutions like Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Research and Technology have made the practice public through social media advertisements. “You can’t pre-book seats. Under NMC rules, UG admissions must be conducted through central or state counselling authorities in a single-window online process. Experts demanded action against misleading advertisements. “Desperate parents and first-time applicants may not know the rules. Download the TOI App.