BHUBANESWAR, SEPT 18: Once again, the entrance test for admission to post-graduate (PG) courses in three medical colleges in Orissa is in the thick of a controversy. And this time, it is over the entrance test for the year 1999.Re-examination of the PG Medical Entrance Test 1999 was held on August 1, following a directive of the Orissa High Court which had cancelled the test over irregularities in the selection process.However, after a re-examination, a section of the students has again sought the High Court's intervention alleging irregularities.In 1998, two medical PG entrance tests were held simultaneously for the academic sessions 1998 and 1999. Aggrieved over the process of selection and faulty procedures adopted in awarding marks, several aspirants filed writ petitions in the High Court praying for cancellation of both the tests.The High Court upheld the entrance examination for '98 and directed a re-examination and preparation of a fresh merit list for '98. Accordingly, the re-examinationwas held on August 1, under the supervision of the PG Selection Committee convener and counselling for admissions was held on September 5 and 6.But the re-examination is dogged by controversy as many of the students have alleged that there were over 10 questions with answers having more than four choices in contrast to the provisions laid down in the prospectus.In a writ petiton filed in the High Court, the students alleged that they had been deprived of over 50 marks due to wrong or ambiguous questions.According to the petitioners, there were five answer choices to each of the 10 questions - A, B, C, D and E, though the prospectus stated that there would be four choices.The defective set of question papers could be due to wrong or ambiguous questions or wrongly framed answers or wrongly printed questions, the petitioners added.The entrance test for admission to PG courses in medical colleges is held every year by the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), while the set ofquestions is prepared by a selection committee comprising principals of three medical colleges and experts in different subjects.``Why should there be confusion or ambiguous questions and answers when these are prepared by experts?'' ask the students.This apart, the petitioners have also alleged that the PG Selection Committee has allowed many candidates, who had taken admission for the 1998 session, to appear for the test and take admission for the 1999 session, violating provisions laid down in the prospectus.This has resulted in vacancies in PG seats for the 1998 session, they stated.
