At the end of this year's admission process, there were about 7,000 vacant BDS seats at the all-India level. Not because there are no children to join the course. This was due to the lack of students who met the eligibility criteria stipulated by the Dental Council. The condition is that the general category students should have obtained not less than 50% marks in the qualifying examination. Similarly, the cut-off mark for SCs, STs and other backward classes is 40 per cent. A 10 per cent reduction in the cut-off mark will give admission to many students who want to study BDS.

In that case, private medical colleges do not have to vacate so many seats. However, the central government opposes this, saying that giving concessions to students with reduced eligibility would lead to a decline in the quality of medical education. When the issue reached the Supreme Court, a two-judge bench ruled in favour of the students. The apex court also allowed the admission of studets in vacant BDS seats this year by reducing the qualifying marks by 10 per cent. It also proposed to complete the admission process by February 18. According to the court decision, 40 per cent marks are sufficient for dental admission for general category children. 30 per cent for reserved sections.

Seats are now vacant in private dental colleges. Their managements are mainly going to benefit from the Supreme Court decision. The cut-off mark is not the only reason for so many vacant seat. High fees also keep children away from dental courses.

In order to fill the vacant dental seat, the apex court has this year ordered that the quality of dental education will not come down due to a slight reduction in the qualifying marks. The dental council had recommended a 20 per cent reduction in the qualifying marks, but the court cofined that to 10 per cent. But even then, many are going to get the benefit of this. There are 28000 BDS seats in dental colleges in the country. 7.71 lakh students had turned eligible for admission to MBBS and BDS at all India level.

The Central Government is of the view that the reduction in qualifying marks will lead to a decline in the quality of professional courses. This is also the reason for opposing the argument that admission can be given to those with low marks. But when so many seats became vacant for medical specialty courses like this, the Center had given permission to waive the eligibility criteria. Many had thus gained access. Citing this, the petitioners contradicted the Central position. The court also asked if concessions could be given to super specialty courses why can’t it be given to dental courses as well.

Although the Centre’s stand was not considered by court, the question remains as to whether the tendency to relax the eligibility criteria to fill the vacant seats is desirable in the long run. The proliferation of dental colleges in the self-financing sector had creates more vacant seats every year. This tragedy happened years ago in the field of engineering. With no children to study, engineering colleges in many states had to be shut down. Many were transformed into theatres and wedding halls.
Flat complexes have come up in places where engineering colleges stood. If the current trend continues, the very existence of dental colleges is likely to be jeopardized in course of time. The solution for is to understand the necessity and regulate the number of colleges. If the eligibility mark criteria is waived only with the intension to fill the seats and if the admission is started, the end result will be a great tragedy. In case of shortage of students, dental colleges may be considered for conversion to colleges for other paramedical courses. There are many medical courses in demand.
With hundreds of medical and dental colleges coming up in the self-financing sector, the fact that no legislation has yet been enacted on how much their fees can be is paving the way for massive exploitation of students. The final fee list is released every year when the admission is completed and the course is halfway through. It still hasn't changed. The Supreme Court has set aside the appeals filed by the government and students against the High Court order disregarding the Fee decision committee in Kerala. We can only sympathise with the students who have to pay Rs 20 to 2 lakhs as yearly fee.