The Hindu : Kerala News : Dental colleges may lose recognition: RSP

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Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Dental colleges may lose recognition: RSP

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 19. The RSP State secretary, T.J. Chandrachoodan, has said that Government dental colleges in the State may lose recognition by the Dental Council of India following irregularities in teacher appointments and promotions.

Addressing a news conference here on Friday, Prof. Chandrachoodan said the Dental Council had already directed the Kottayam Dental College not to admit students for the BDS course for the 2004-'05 academic year. The Council directive followed posting of persons without adequate qualification and experience to the post of Assistant Professor. The irregularity had come to light when an inspection team from the Council visited the college and found that some persons had been appointed as Assistant Professors in violation of norms and overlooking the claims of eligible candidates, he said.

Qualification

The RSP leader pointed out that only persons who have three years' teaching experience after entering service on completion of BDS can be appointed as Assistant Professors. The three-year service norm was applicable to those who take up teaching after securing MDS degree as well. The appointment at the Kottayam Dental College was in violation of this norm.Similar violation of norms had taken place in two cases each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam Dental Colleges and four in the Kozhikode Dental College.

The Government had transferred one of the ineligible teachers to the Thiruvananthapuram Dental College. An inspection team of the Dental Council was slated to visit the Thiruvananthapuram Dental College next month. If they find the ineligible person holding Assistant Professorship in Thiruvananthapuram, the college would lose its recognition. The Government should hold an urgent inquiry into the irregular appointments and initiate action against those responsible for it, Prof. Chandrachoodan said.

Lenient view unlikely

He said there was very little possibility of the Dental Council taking a lenient view of the issue as the State's representative to the Council is the owner of a new generation private dental colleges.

He was very likely to ensure that the issue turns complex so that the private sector would benefit from it. If the Government permits admissions to the 2004-'05 academic year without clearance from the Dental Council, it would land the students in deep trouble. The Government should also order a Vigilance probe into the activities of the corrupt elements in the Directorate of Medical Education who had worked behind the scene to facilitate such appointments, the RSP leader said.

Online lottery

Prof. Chandrachoodan sought a Vigilance inquiry into the refusal of police officials to cooperate with the Lottery Directorate's attempts to seize bogus lottery tickets following the lottery operators' meeting with the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, on September 13. Mr. Chandy would be able to clear his name only if he ordered a Vigilance probe and brought the guilty to book, he said.

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