Governor P Sathasivam returns ordinance on Kannur medical college

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor P. Sathasivam has returned an ordinance for regularising admissions to 150 MBBS seats to Kannur Medical College, Anjarakandy, held last year. According to sources, the Governor sought further clarification from the government. The Supreme Court and Admission Supervisory Committee chaired by Justice J. M. James had earlier cancelled the admissions following irregularities.  Karuna and Kannur medical colleges had not signed an agreement with the state government on admissions last year and conducted did it on their own. 

The James Committee had also made 30 students who secured admission to Karuna Medical College as ineligible. The state government decided to bring in an ordinance as it found that many students admitted earlier to the Kannur medical college may lose the chance for admissions to other colleges also. Since the Supreme Court and Admission Supervisory Committee had cancelled the admissions, there were apprehensions over the legal sanctity of the ordinance, said sources.  They said if challenged in the High Court or the apex court, it would be difficult to defend the ordinance.  

Second largest partner in the LDF, CPI, also reportedly raised objections to such an ordinance. There were also allegations that CPM and the chief minister had a special interest in protecting interests of the management of Kannur medical college which is incidentally directly linked to the fate of the students. This is despite the fact that the management refrained from an agreement with the government last year.