PG ADMISSION - Issue of med reservation needs comprehensive study, says HC

Chennai: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Uncertainty over post-graduate medical admissions in Tamil Nadu is to persist for some more time, as the Madras high court said the issue of reservation and incentive for in service government doctors in PG medical admissions, and the MCI's latest regulations, required a comprehensive reading. Noting that disposing of the “matter involving complex issues at the stage of admission would not be proper,“ a division bench of Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice RMT Teekaa Raman advised counsel on both sides to approach the chief jus tice to constitute a special bench for hearing the matter during summer vacation, which begins on May 1, or to move vacation bench of the court for early hearing and disposal of the cases.

The bench is hearing a batch of appeals against a single judge order dated April 17, holding that the state government must adhere to MCI's latest regulations with regard to award of marks for government doctors serving in remote areas.

However, the bench, which heard the submissions of senior advocates P Wilson and G Thilagavathi, besides advocate-general of Tamil Nadu R Muthukumaraswamy, said: “This court is of the considered view that a comprehensive reading and appraisal of the Central and State List, as well as the respective Regulations, is required with reference to the autonomy given to the state government in the matter of allocation of seats.

“This court is of the further view that a comprehensive hearing needs to be given with regard to the allocation 25% of the seats to general merit candidates and 25% to in-service candidates based on the areas as notified in the prospectus, keeping in mind the guidelines formulated by MCI.“