NEXT HEARING ON MAY 19

Petitioners submitted that in 2019 there were 972 postgraduate seats in the state, of which 330 seats were open seats.

With the introduction of 10% reservation for EWS candidates, the state got a 25% increase in overall seats, thus taking the number of total seats for 2020-2021 to 1,168.

However, seats for open category decreased to 327. The court directed the state and the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) to explain the rationale and justification behind the decrease in seats for open category candidates

video conferencing, was informed by advocates Rajiv Pandya and Vivek Singh that the petition challenged the allocation of seat matrix for admission to postgraduate medical courses for 2020-21.

The petitioners submitted that in 2019 there were 972 postgraduate seats in the state, of which 330 seats were open seats. With the introduction of 10% reservation for EWS candidates, the state got a 25% increase in overall seats, thus taking the number of total seats for 2020-2021 to 1,168.

However, seats for open category decreased to 327.

State lawyer Jyoti Chavan sought time to respond to the rejoinder, and the bench directed the state and DMER to file an affidavit making its position clear and address the issues raised in the rejoinder.

The issues mentioned in the rejoinder are the decrease in seats for open category students, decrease in seats in clinical branch and non-consideration of additional seats in individual subjects and individual government medical colleges.

The court directed the affidavit to be filed by May 18 and posted the matter for hearing on May 19.

It added, “Though selection process may proceed, it shall be subject to the outcome of the orders which may be passed in this petition.”

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