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Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

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National

Court directive on medical quota

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 31. The Supreme Court today directed the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal to furnish information by tonight on the vacancies in the government medical colleges in their States under the 15 per cent all-India quota for the current academic year.

A Bench comprising Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari also asked the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal to furnish details on the vacancies in the government dental colleges.

The Bench gave the direction after perusing the affidavit filed by the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS) informing the Court that of the 93 government medical colleges that participated in contributing to the 15 per cent all-India quota seats, information on the vacancies had been received only from 78 colleges. Accordingly, 105 seats were vacant at the end of the second round of counselling.

The affidavit stated that only 20 of the 25 government dental colleges had supplied the necessary information and 30 seats remained vacant at the end of the second round of counselling.

Taking a serious view of the lapse, the Bench said that no further delay could be allowed and the Chief Secretaries of these States would be responsible for supplying information in this regard by 9 tonight.

On receiving the information, the DGHS would complete the chart indicating the vacancies in all the government medical and dental colleges, which could be helpful in passing further orders, the Court said.

Delay in counselling

The Court is hearing a batch of petitions filed by candidates seeking admission in medical and dental colleges under the all-India quota complaining about the inordinate delay in many States in conducting counselling, which had affected the admission process and the commencement of the academic year.

They alleged that many States wanted to grab the vacant seats under the all-India quota citing the delay in counselling. The Court had already made it clear that States would not be allowed to fill the vacant seats with their own candidates under any circumstance. It directed the listing of these petitions tomorrow for orders.

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