KARACHI, March 8: The expelled Sindh Medical College students might be issued certificates to enable them to seek admission to private medical institutions, the high court was informed on Monday.

A three-member bench is hearing scores of writ petitions moved by the students expelled from various classes of MBBS for having obtained admissions fraudulently.

The students challenged the SMC action as, they said, they could not be punished for the irregularities committed by the admission staff and deprived of their right to pursue their studies, particularly after attending classes and taking tests and examinations.

The petitions were initially assigned to two division benches, which returned conflicting judgments. A three-member bench was constituted to adjudicate them and resolve the conflict. The bench consists of Justices Shabbir Ahmed, Ghulam Rabbani and M. Sadiq Leghari.

As the petitions came up for hearing on Monday, Additional Advocate-General Abbas Ali informed the bench that the authorities were considering issuing migration certificates to the expelled students so that they could seek admission to private medical colleges, which would be free to judge their merit.

Appearing for the students, Advocate Raja Qureshi said he had no objection to adjournment of the proceedings to see the outcome of any exercise aimed at providing relief to the petitioners. The bench adjourned the hearing to March 22 by consent.