Scam in Medical Admission: A dark shadow of corruption has once again fallen over medical admissions in West Bengal. This time, the controversy revolves around the use of fake ST (Scheduled Tribe) certificates for admission to MBBS courses in the state’s medical colleges. This incident has created a significant stir across the state. The State ST Welfare Association has accused 47 individuals of allegedly using forged certificates to gain admission to medical studies. This has raised serious questions about the transparency of the state’s health and education systems.
What is the main allegation?
According to the complaint, 47 students have been admitted to various medical and dental colleges in the state using fake ST certificates. Among them, 30 have already participated in the counseling process and secured their places in various prestigious colleges. These include Nilratan Sircar Medical College (NRS), R.G. Kar Medical College, and many other government medical colleges. This incident has cast a long shadow of doubt on the transparency of the state’s health and education systems.
Administration springs into action for investigation
Following this serious allegation, the state’s Backward Classes Welfare Department and the Health Department have swung into action. A list of the 47 accused individuals has been sent to all medical colleges and hospitals in the state by the Health Department. The college authorities have been directed to promptly send the caste certificates of the accused to the Backward Classes Welfare Department for verification. It is believed that this investigation will help in getting to the root of the corruption. The common people are demanding that the real culprits be punished swiftly and that deserving candidates get their rightful opportunities.
The broader context of corruption
This incident is not an isolated one. Just as there have been allegations of question papers being leaked for money in the SSC (School Service Commission) recruitment scam, there are also allegations of widespread forgery of ST certificates. The Calcutta High Court had nullified the entire 2016 SSC panel, which exposed the depth of corruption in the state’s recruitment process. The Supreme Court has also warned the state government and the SSC not to shield the corrupt.
