Amid the ongoing national controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak, the MBBS admission process in Chhattisgarh has come under severe scrutiny. Allegations of dual domicile fraud have surfaced during the medical counselling process conducted in Raipur, where several candidates reportedly used residency certificates from multiple states to secure medical seats. According to submitted documents and claims, candidates have managed to obtain state quota MBBS seats in Chhattisgarh alongside other states including Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. This development has raised serious questions over the transparency of the medical education system and state counselling procedures.
Verification of Suspicious Domicile and Caste Certificates
Initial scrutiny of the documentation submitted during counselling indicates that certain candidates presented valid domicile certificates for two different states simultaneously. Furthermore, the authenticity of caste certificates submitted by some applicants is also under investigation. Under standard admission guidelines, a candidate is prohibited from claiming state quota benefits in more than one state during the same academic session, yet multiple seats were blocked across state boundaries.
Five Key Cases Highlighting Admission Irregularities
Five specific candidate cases identified in the preliminary counselling list illustrate the extent of the alleged documentation fraud
- Case 1 (Riddhi, AIR 453054): Candidate Riddhi, holding All India Rank 453054, secured state quota selection in both Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
- Case 2 (Nevita, AIR 451234): Candidate Nevita, with All India Rank 451234, had her name listed under the state quota merit lists of both Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Case 3 (Aahana, AIR 643603): Candidate Aahana, holding All India Rank 643603, was allocated state quota seats in both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh based on domicile. The records reveal that the candidate is registered as OBC in one state and SC in the other.
- Case 4 (Lakshya, AIR 762615): Candidate Lakshya, with All India Rank 762615, obtained an SC category seat in Madhya Pradesh and a General category seat in Chhattisgarh, possessing domicile certificates for both states.
- Case 5 (Aakanksha, AIR 1162810): Candidate Aakanksha, holding All India Rank 1162810, achieved state quota selection in both Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand using dual domicile credentials.
Health Minister Confirms Traced Cases and Strict Audits
Addressing the growing controversy, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal confirmed that 10 cases involving dual domiciles have already been traced. Breaking down the identified instances, he stated that the cases comprise 4 from Jharkhand, 4 from Madhya Pradesh, 4 from Karnataka, and 1 each from Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. The Health Minister assured that thorough background verification of caste and residency certificates will be conducted for all candidates before final admissions are confirmed.
Doctor Association Demands Action Amid Seat Allocation Breakdown
Expressing deep concern over the situation, Junior Doctors Association President Dr. Ayush Srivastava criticized the Directorate of Medical Education, stating, "NEET UG counselling is being conducted in a suspicious manner, and admissions are being granted on fake domiciles." He called for strict disciplinary action against those involved in enabling the fraudulent process.
The first round of counselling is currently underway for a total of 3,025 MBBS seats in Chhattisgarh. This total allocation includes 1,984 state quota seats, 553 management quota seats, 252 All India quota seats, 192 NRI quota seats, and 44 central pool seats. As allegations of merit list fraud intensify, the conduct of the Medical Education Department and officials involved in the counselling remains under intense scrutiny.
