NEET-PG aspirants to DMER, CET: Rich med students submitting fake EWS certificate

Many post-graduate medical aspirants have complained to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and the state CET cell signalling a potential fake certificate scam for EWS (economically weaker section), OBC and SEBC categories.

The complaints highlight instances of students who have got admission to PG seats under these quotas, but their social media posts of foreign vacations and parents’ job profiles on networking sites contradict their claim of economic disadvantage.

The 10 per cent EWS quota includes those not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs and whose family has gross annual income below Rs. 8 lakh. This is the first-year of implementation of EWS quota for PGmedical seats. On the other hand, OBC and SEBC (Maratha quota) candidates need a non-creamy layer certificate with the same income cap.

CET released its first-round of selection list of NEET-PG on May 15. Mirror accessed the material complied by students and a pan-Maharashtra group Save Merit Save Nation. Some complainants even knew the students whom they accused.

In one instance, the father of an EWS candidate holds a managerial position in a multinational company. Another instance, pointed out in an email complaint to DMER, states that the father of an EWS candidate, named in the email, is an MD (doctor of medicine) and a professor at a medical college.

“Many of these candidates are extremely affluent, applying to management quota seats in private medical colleges. The known methods of getting fake certificates are showing only one parent’s income, not showing land or owned property and showing low income from businesses,” said a complaint from another student.

In one WhatsApp conversation, an EWS candidate is confronted by her peer. “How come you are EWS?” The candidate reasoned, “Desperate time, desperate measures. Many open-category aspirants told me they are making EWS certificates, so I thought of doing the same.”

The complainants demanded an inquiry in the matter.

CET Commissioner Sandeep Kadam said his office was checking the complaints and a meeting was held on Thursday. “We will take a serious look into the matter,” he said.