HC stays GO that cut merit MBBS seats

Boost for medical, dental aspirants in unaided minority colleges

The Hyderabad High Court on Monday directed the Telangana state government to make admissions into unaided minority medical and dental Institutions for 2017-2018 in accordance with GO MS No. 130 in the ratio of 60:40, and not in accordance with new GOs which reduced A category seats and increased B and C Category seats.

A division bench comprising Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice T. Rajani was dealing with a petition by Mr Basheeruddin Siddiqui and 13 MBBS aspirants challenging GO Ms No. 115, 117 and 119 issued in July 2017, wherein the percentage of Category A seats had been reduced to 50 per cent, and seats of B and C categories were enhanced to 35 and 15 per cent respectively.

Ms Rachna Reddy, counsel appearing for the petitioners, submitted that as per GO 130 issued in 2016 the percentage of A category was 60, and for B and C categories were 25 per cent and 15 per cent seats respectively.

She submitted that due to increase of management quota seats and reducing seats in Category A, minority students with good ranks in Neet would be forced to opt for Category B seats if the college said that Category A seats were filled.

While pointing out that government was profiteering, the bench said that NRI seats under Category C should be enough for some amount of profits but even enhancing Category B to such an extent was unfair.

The bench stayed GO Ms No 115, 117 and 119 and granted an interim order stating that all admissions should be strictly in accordance with GO No 130. The bench issued notices to the respondents.