Kathmandu, April 13: Dr Govinda KC is preparing a hunger strike against a government decision he says violates the Medical Education Act. The move targets a directive issued under Balen Shah’s leadership to admit Ekata Shah, injured during the “Gen Z movement,” into an MBBS program under an additional scholarship quota.
The Cabinet approved the decision on March 14, despite Shah securing 57.57 marks and not qualifying through the standard merit system. Dr KC has warned he will begin his protest within days if the decision is not reversed.
Currently undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, he says the issue is not personal health but the government’s disregard for legal procedures. He argues the administration has continued a pattern of bypassing established rules. This time, his protest will also focus on Education Minister Sasmita Pokharel, who had earlier supported medical education reforms.
Criticism has intensified across sectors. Dr KC insists that medical admissions must strictly follow merit rankings, legal provisions, and the matching system. He has urged the Medical Education Commission not to comply with what he calls an unlawful directive. While supporting equitable access, he rejects decisions made outside legal boundaries.
The government, however, has defended the move. It claims the decision does not infringe on rights and follows relief procedures for those injured during protests. Officials also argue that funding for the additional scholarship has been secured, making the decision valid.
Dr KC disputes this. He notes that the Commission had already fixed 2,635 seats for the academic year and completed admissions based on merit. Introducing a new student after classes have begun, he argues, violates the law.
Critics, including reform advocate Pratim Subedi, say the decision is emotionally driven and undermines legal authority. He warns that allowing such exceptions risks reviving past distortions in medical education
People’s News Monitoring Service
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