Question : DENTAL COLLEGES

(a) whether the Government has taken note of certain incidences of irregularities, malpractices and non-compliance of required criteria including appointment of fake faculties and admission of students in excess of sanctioned strength in several dental colleges in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of such cases reported and the action taken/proposed by the Government against the erring dental colleges during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the steps taken/proposed by the Government to check recurrence of such incidences in the dental colleges;

(d) whether the Government has received some complaints regarding irregularity/malpractice in grant of approval for additional post graduate seats in dental colleges for the academic year 2012-13; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken/proposed by the Government on the matter?

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) to (c): Yes, certain complaints alleging irregularities/malpractices and non-compliance of required criteria have been received and on the basis of documentary evidence/physical verification, the erring dental colleges are either declined renewal permission or admission capacity is reduced till the deficiencies are rectified. The details of number of dental colleges which were not granted renewal of permission with regard to BDS and MDS course is at Annexure – I. Certain dental colleges have reportedly made excess admissions over and above the sanctioned BDS and MDS seats during the academic session 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. The details of colleges which made excess admissions in BDS and MDS course during the last three years are at Annexure – II & III. In such cases, the Central Government in consultation with Dental Council of India either directs the erring dental colleges to discharge or neutralize the excess admissions in subsequent years from management quota. In addition, the dental colleges are warned that in case any admissions are made without permission of Central Government, such admissions would be treated as irregular and action under section 10B of the Dentists (Amendment) Act, 1993 would be initiated.

(d) & (e): No specific irregularity has been noticed in grant of approval for additional post graduate seats in dental colleges for the academic year 2012-13. However, some complaints in this regard have been received. The Central Government initiates action as per the provisions contained in the Dentists Act, 1948 after receiving comments of Dental Council of India, concerned institution and physical verification, if required, of existing infrastructure in terms of teaching faculty, equipments, hostels, clinical material etc.