Day 2 counselling: 573 candidates allotted medical seats

Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar and Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan handed over allotment letters to 10 toppers, all of whom opted for the Madras Medical College.

However, only two among the top 10 who had featured in the merit list released last week were present on Monday to receive their allotment letters, while the other toppers came through the All India Quota.

Raj Chendur Abhishek R of Dharmapuri, who completed his Class 12 under the Andhra Pradesh syllabus in Vijayawada, and Mohamed Shuaib Hasan of Chennai were the only two from the merit list who claimed their seats in the government quota.

Following the intervention of the Madras High Court, the Tamil Nadu government had included 90 students, who studied outside the State and yet having a proof of their parents being natives of TN, to the merit list, which made them eligible for the counselling.

“While we have added 90 students to the list, not more than 29 of them have a chance of getting a seat,” said G Selvaraj, Secretary, Selection Committee.

A total of 609 candidates had been called for counselling on Monday, of which 580 turned up. 572 students were allotted medical seats in government colleges, while one student was allotted a seat in a self-financed college.

It may be noted that the Christian Medical College in Vellore has not yet surrendered its seats to the State government and is conducting its own counselling.