Admission quota for docs: HC notices to varsity, MCI

Court says all admissions subject to decision on writs

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has put Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, and Medical Council of India (MCI) on notice on a plea challenging 60% reservation under state seats for in-service Punjab Civil Medical Service doctors.

CHANDIGARH The Punjab and Haryana high court has put Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, and Medical Council of India (MCI) on notice on a petition challenging 60% reservation under the state quota seats for in-service Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS) doctors.

The high court bench of justice Jaishree Thakur while seeking response by March 8 has made it clear that ongoing admissions will be subject to the decision of writ pending before the court.

The notification on reservation of seats was issued on October 24, 2016, by the state government.

Petitioners Dr Rajesh Kumar and Dr Amanpreet Singh, rural medical officers working under the panchayati raj department, have termed the move “illegal and unconstitutional”, and in violation of regulation 9 of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, framed by the MCI.

The Supreme Court in a judgment on August 16, 2016, had held that as per regulation 9, no reservation for in-service doctors is permissible, the court was told. These admissions are to be made on the basis of a single merit list of the all India test and additional 10% has to be given to such doctors for each year of service in remote and difficult areas notified by a competent authority, the court was told. They have demanded that admissions be conducted strictly on the basis of merit in a national level test, and after adding incentive marks as per the MCI regulations.