JIPMER Medical Student Controversy: A 21-year-old medical student has found himself embroiled in a legal battle over his birth claim over the admission criteria at the prestigious JIPMER in Puducherry. In fact, Nazih Khalid scored 99.30 percentile in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) last year and got admission in the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) under the residency quota, but soon his admission was challenged. 

Saminathan S, 18, alleged that Khalid had claimed to be born in Puducherry as well as Kerala and moved the Madras High Court in November last year seeking cancellation of his admission. Khalid has denied any wrongdoing on his part. As per the admission norms, a student cannot claim birth in more than one state in an academic year while applying for admission in medical colleges.

An organization fighting for the cause of students of the Union Territory of Puducherry has claimed that many students are availing the benefits of different nativity norms in different states pick up and apply for admission in several states to "get the best chance".

Quite common especially in border areas. Students should know that it can spell disaster in their career." 

demanded that Khalid's admission be canceled as he had misled the authorities by filing a false affidavit. Saminathan also sought his transfer to the Puducherry campus on the seat currently occupied by Khalid. The High Court has issued notice to the Director of Medical Education (DME) of Puducherry, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Khalid and other concerned parties.

But the report submitted by the DME confirmed that he had claimed to be born in Kerala in the 2022-23 academic session as well. The High Court then asked the DME of Puducherry to give its opinion. During the hearing on 24 January 2023, the DME said that the seats of both the students should be interchanged. Expressing displeasure, the court asked the counsel appearing for DME to file an affidavit. On February 06, the DME told the court in an affidavit that the Union Health Ministry was empowered to act in the matter and that it had been informed of the matter. The DGHS, in its affidavit, said that the last date for admission was December 21. 

The court has reserved the verdict. The challenge before the authorities is that they can discharge Khalid, candidates, but remained silent about Khalid's case in JIPMER, which is run by the central government. Ravi said, "The rules should be respected and a message should go out to all medical aspirants that they should not mislead the officials about their date of birth.