ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University to reconduct the National Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) within two weeks.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz issued the order while hearing an intra-court appeal against the single bench’s earlier decision to re-administer the exam.

During the hearing, it was revealed that 31 out of 200 questions in the original exam were initially declared out of syllabus.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) committee later revised this number to 25 and finally to 18, citing difficulty levels. The court sought clarity on why the final number of disputed questions was reduced.

The bench noted that if 18 questions are excluded, leaving 182 valid questions, the passing marks (50pc) would equate to 90. The court emphasized the need to ensure fairness in recalculating the results.

Students and their parents expressed dissatisfaction over the examination process, alleging unfairness. Chief Justice Aamir Farooq instructed them to remain calm and assured that their concerns would be addressed.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Raja Rizwan Abbasi, informed the court that some students were awarded six grace marks in the original exam.

The PMDC lawyer argued that the university had followed standard procedures and highlighted that reconducting exams often leads to additional challenges, as seen in Sindh, where the re-examination was reportedly tougher.

Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz underscored the importance of resolving student grievances rather than merely satisfying procedural requirements.

The court also discussed the MDCAT examination fee, which is Rs8,000 and split equally between the PMDC and the university. The petitioner’s lawyer requested fee waivers for the re-examiunation, but the university’s lawyer insisted students should pay.

The single bench had earlier ordered the re-examination to be conducted without additional fees.

The court directed the university to conduct the re-examination by Dec 31 and adjourned the hearing. Chief Justice Aamir Farooq urged students to prepare for the exam and avoid unnecessary distractions.

The court also instructed the university to issue a written order detailing the date and logistics of the re-exam.

Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned for a fortnight.

Earlier this week, as many as 24,000 students, who appeared in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) on September 22, had requested President Asif Ali Zardari and the Islamabad High Court to intervene after PMDC announced third extension in the date of retest.

Students are in a state of panic , particularly after the retake of MDCAT in Sindh, as admissions will soon start across the country and a number of students who appeared in Islamabad intend to apply for Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan’s universities. They urged President Zardari, who is the chancellor of the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), to save their future and direct the university to retake the exam.

They had also appealed to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice to intervene and ensure implementation of the court decision.

The SZABMU held the MDCAT on Sept 22 in Islamabad, AJK, and at two destinations out of the country, i.e., Saudi Arabia and UAE. However, because of a number of complaints, the IHC directed the university to retake the test.

University says retake will cause financial loss, willing to give ‘grace marks’.

According to the university, the result of the previous test will remain intact, but those who want to reappear in the MDCAT can submit applications. Initially, the university announced that the test would be held on Nov 24, but then it announced it would be held on Dec14.

Eventually, Dec 22 was announced as the new date. But it had been conveyed that the test would not be held as the university had filed an appeal against the decision of the IHC.

Students have appealed to President Zardari that instead of supporting the students and ensuring fairness, SZABMU was jeopardising their future by entangling them in a prolonged legal battle.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024