jiafm, 2010-32(2) april-june. - forensic medicine

J Indian Acad Forensic Med, 32(2) ISSN 0971-0973Research paperOperational Difficulties in M.B.B.S. 2 nd Professional Course Due toMCI Regulations: Is MCI Listening?*Dr. Rajiv Mahajan , M.D. (Pharmacology), **Dr. Parmod Kumar Goyal, M.D. (Forensic Medicine),***Dr. Mukesh Yadav, M.D. (Forensic Medicine), L.L.B., PGDHR.Abstract:Students of 1 st professional if failed during final exams are not allowed to attend classes of 2 nd professionalaccording to MCI rules. These students appear in supplementary exams of 1 st professional and after clearing them,join 2 nd professional late by 4-6 months. Here lies the operational difficulty: conducting separate supplementarybatch for them in 2 nd professional is not feasible; and asking them to attend classes with regular batch is a cruelty tothem as they will not gain anything when one-third syllabus and basic concepts in 2 nd professional subjects havealready been covered. Moreover, these supplementary students often rush to courts to have remedial measures-toallow them to appear with regular batch in 2 nd professional exams. Sometimes their plea is allowed, sometimes it isdismissed. This paper discusses all these difficulties faced both by faculty and students and also suggest someremedial measures for kind consideration by MCI.Key Words: MCI, Rules, Supplementary, Professional, UniversityIntroduction:This paper is to discuss the operationaldifficulties that arise in conducting M.B.B.S. 2 ndprofessional course due to a clause of MCIregulations for undergraduate teaching, which statesthat “No student shall be permitted to join the PhaseII (Para-clinical/clinical) group of subjects until hehas passed in all the Phase 1 (Pre-clinical) subjectsfor which he will be permitted not more than fourchances (actual examination), provided four chancesare completed in three years from the date ofenrollment”. [1]This clause of MCI regulations has beenquestioned many a times; is a subject of constantlitigations, and had been scrutinized many a times, bycourt of law. [2, 3]Moreover, it poses operational difficulties;both for the students as well as for the concerneddepartments.Corresponding Author:*Associate Professor,Deptt. of Pharmacology,Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research,Bathinda-151109 (Punjab)Email: drrajivmahajan01@yahoo.co.in**Associate Professor,Deptt. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology,***Professor & Head,Deptt. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology,School of Medical Sciences & Research,Sharda University,Greater Noida-201306 (U.P.)Forensic Medicine being part of 2 ndprofessional M.B.B.S. course, Indian Academy ofForensic Medicine is the right forum to raise such animportant issue, so that experts in this field candiscuss it further.Those students who are unable to pass 1 stprofessional examination in first attempt (re-appearstudents/ supplementary batch), are not allowed toattend 2 nd professional classes due to this clause ofMCI regulations. Their supplementary examinationsare to be held within six months of the mainexamination. [1]Usually, this period ranges from 4-6 months.Now, MCI regulations also state that “Supplementaryexamination may be conducted within six months sothat the students who pass can join the main batchand the failed students will have to appear in thesubsequent year.”[1] This means that after passingtheir 1 st professional in supplementary examination,the re-appear students have to join their main batch.Discussion:M.B.B.S. 2 nd professional course has beendivided into three semesters of six months each(having 120 teaching days in each semester) startingfrom 3 rd semester i.e. semester 3 rd to 5 th are to becompleted in 2 nd professional. Regular students willjoin 2 nd professional course in 3 rd semester, but reappearstudents, who join course six months later,will join which semester? 3 rd or 4 th , because they aresupposed to join main batch after passingsupplementary examinations, as stated by MCI rules,[1] and by that time main batch is already in 4 th179