Karnataka: MBBS students pay Rs 1 lakh to pass

IBN Live

Bangalore, 16 June 2011: One lakh rupees for every mark added - that’s the going rate in the fake marks scam in Karnataka. If you are an MBBS student, you could pass the university exam by just shelling out money. Evaluating officers will change the marks when they get the copies for retotalling.

 

Students have paid a lakh for every percentage that is needed for them to clear the exam. MBBS students from seven colleges across Karnataka were part of the scam since 2006. Karnataka police have registered FIRs against 18 students for paying evaluating officers. Karnataka officials say many students have already become doctors by paying for these marks.

 

Students from colleges like Al-Ameen Dental College in Bangalore and colleges from Gulbarga, Tumkur and Chitradurga are under the scanner. Karnataka’s medical education minister has declared the High court can cancel these degrees if fraud is proven.

 

Karnataka Medical Education Minister SA Ramdas said, "We have registered a case against the students in a police station and an FIR has been registered."

 

So far around 18 students have been caught from seven colleges across Karanataka - including reputed colleges like Al-ameen Dental College in Bangalore and others from Gulbarga, Tumkur and Chitradurga. Officials say the practice has been on since 2006 and that many students may have already graduated with fake marks.

 

Ramdas added, "It’s a criminal offense and I have submitted the same details in the Karnataka High Court and the divisional bench judge observed that if the inquiries in to these malpractices are proved then the court is ready to even cancel the degree."

 

Despite all the assurances, the question remains - how will the authorities track down such fake doctors who could cause potential harm to patients?

-Abhirr V P