The Karnataka government has issued no objection certificates to set up three new private medical colleges in the state. The colleges are in Hubli-Dharwad, Bangalore and Mysore. The government has also taken a decision to derecognize four medical colleges and plans to counter the dwindling faculty strength.

Dr AB Maalakaraddy, minister for medical education said that the Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatha Education Trust, Hubli-Dharwad; Rajarajeswari Education Trust, Bangalore and Shantaveera Gopala Gowda Trust, Mysore have been issued no objection certificates to set up medical colleges. However, the central government approval is awaited.

In view of the Supreme Court order on professional colleges, the state government will prevail upon the centre to enact the legislation to provide concessions to deserving students in admissions to professional courses, "We will urge the Centre to bring about the legislation," he said. A legislation is necessary to end the confusion on seat sharing quota between the government and private college managements and also with regard to fee structure, he added.

The centre has taken measures to evolve guidelines as per the apex court direction and the minister added that already two consultative meetings have been held in this regard. The existing fee of Rs 2 lakh per year for students taking up the medical course could not be reduced.

Dr Maalakaraddy said the Medical Council of India (MCI) has derecognized four medical colleges- Navodaya Medical College, Raichur; MVJ Medical College, Bangalore; Basaveshwara Medical College, Chitradurga and Sajala Medical College, Gulbarga this year. These colleges have not been permitted to make admissions to first year MBBS course this year as it failed to meet the infrastructure requirements.

On a query referring to MCI's report on the Adichunchanagiri Medical College, Mandya and MR Medical College, Gulbarga, which was short listed to be derecognized because it lacked the required infrastructure, the medical education minister said that the government of India had not sent any intimation in this regard. Moreover, both these colleges have already completed the admission process, he added.

On increasing the student intake in the four government medical colleges, including Bangalore Medical College, Dr. Maalakaraddy said the MCI would not recognize enhanced intake of students unless it was backed up by the stipulated infrastructure requirements.