State Health Minister K.G. Arunraj announced on Wednesday that three private medical institutions—Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinivasan Medical College, and St. Peter’s Medical College—have been accorded "deemed to be university" status. This move threatens to strip the state of 461 MBBS and BDS seats, including 35 seats under the 7.5% horizontal reservation for government‑school students.

Impact of Deemed University Status

Once an institution attains deemed university status, it is no longer bound by the state’s reservation policy, fee structure, or the 7.5% quota for government‑school candidates. It can fill its MBBS and BDS seats independently, undermining the social‑justice framework that Tamil Nadu has built into its medical education system.

Legal Response and Federal Dialogue

Arunraj said the government learned of the status change from the National Medical Commission website and immediately consulted the Advocate General. A writ petition is being prepared to challenge the decision in court. Simultaneously, the state will approach the Union Government and the Ministry of Education to make a No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state compulsory for any private college seeking deemed university status.

Precedent Cases and Procedural Gaps

The Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College episode illustrates the loophole: the college applied for NOC in 2023, received none within the statutory 60‑day window, and later relied on a High Court ruling that the absence of an NOC automatically equates to a UGC‑approved status. This precedent underscores how private institutions can bypass state oversight.

Launch of NalamAI Chatbot

On the same day, Arunraj inaugurated the NalamAI WhatsApp chatbot, a service operational in 22 districts. The bot enables patients to generate outpatient slips, book appointments for the Respiratory Medicine department, and avoid long queues at government hospitals. Health Secretary Darez Ahamed and RGGGH dean K. Shantharam were present at the launch.