Banning colourblind students from pursuing MBBS regressive, says SC

AmitAnand Choudhary

New Delhi:





Can a student suffering from colour blindness be allowed to pursue medical courses? The Supreme Court has agreed to consider a plea of two students to open the door of medical colleges for them, saying the present practice of Medical Council of India (MCI) not permitting colourblind students to take admission in MBBS courses is regressive and should be done away with.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and A M Khanwilkar appointed an expert committee of senior doctors to find out streams in which such students could be allowed. It said students with colour blindness were allowed to study medical courses in many other countries and the rules or guidelines followed in the country needed to be revived to allow such students to pursue courses where colour blindness might not be a handicap.

“Total exclusion for admission to medical courses without any stipulation in which they really can practise and render assistance would tantamount to regressive thinking.When we conceive of global phenomenon and universal brotherhood, efforts are to be made to be within the said parameters. The march of science, apart from our constitutional warrant and values, commands inclusion and not exclusion,“ the bench said.

The court directed MCI to constitute a committee of experts from genetics, ophthalmology , psychiatry and medical education from AIIMS and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, to examine the issue. The court directed that the committee submit its report in three months.