DME Inspects Bengaluru Colleges Over Missing Addresses and Seat Row

A team from the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) visited several allied health and nursing colleges in Bengaluru on Saturday, August 29, following allegations from students that institutions allotted to them during the second round of Common Entrance Test (CET) counselling were missing or not operating at their listed addresses.

The inspections were initiated following instructions from the Medical Education Minister after students reported issues regarding seats allotted for Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), BSc Nursing, and other professional programmes.

B.L. Sujatha Rathod, director of DME, stated that some of the confusion arose due to administrative lapses. The change of address for Hosmat College of Physiotherapy in Bengaluru and Masood College of Physiotherapy in Mangaluru had already received state government approval and was sent to the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). However, the KEA failed to update the new addresses in its records, leading to confusion among students trying to locate the campuses.

More serious irregularities were noted at other institutions. At B.W. Lions Super Speciality Eye Hospital, located off J.C. Road in Bengaluru, seats were allocated for Allied Health Science (AHS) courses. The management submitted its seat matrix to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) without indicating any issues. However, after the seat matrix was finalised and seat allotment was completed by KEA, the hospital management announced that it would not be able to conduct the course.

Rathod termed the move inexcusable and confirmed that a report will be submitted to the state government by Monday to initiate action against the hospital management.

Inspection teams also visited Sushrutha Nursing College, where a physical building was found at the listed location, but officials discovered that no admissions had taken place there since last year. College staff informed the team that they had entered into an arrangement with another college to accommodate students. The DME confirmed that a high-level investigation will be conducted and a report submitted for legal action.

Additionally, complaints regarding high fees charged by Chettinad Institute of Nursing Education and Research will be investigated, with a formal complaint being lodged with the fee regulatory committee.

In response to the developments, RGUHS issued a clarification stating that it consistently verifies and communicates institutional details for affiliated colleges. The university maintained that whenever changes in college names or addresses are reported and processed, they are promptly communicated to relevant authorities for further action.