Tamil Nadu: Madras High Court's Directive on MBBS Seats

The Madras High Court has recently directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to confirm whether additional MBBS seats can be included in the existing pool of medical seats in the 24 government medical colleges of the state in order to accommodate the waitlisted medical aspirants under the 7.5% government school reservation.

If the seat intake of different medical courses can be increased, then government school students who are currently listed as waiting list candidates will be able to secure medical admission.

Also Read: 7.5 percent Govt school student quota for MBBS course: Madras HC appeals philanthropists to financially help meritorious candidates

This came after the court decided to consider the plea by a number of medical aspirants who had to become waitlisted candidates as they failed to pay the fees in self-financing medical colleges. As per a recent media report, appearing before the bench comprising justice Anand Venkatesh, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that they were unable to secure medical admission in the institutions of their choice as it was not possible for them to pay the medical fee of the courses.

As reported by The New Indian Express, the counsel for the state government submitted that the government has already informed that 160 seats have been reverted after the all-India second counselling and for the 51 students only 12 seats will be available under the 7.5% government school quota.

Considering the fact that there are as many as 24 government medical colleges available in the state, the court suggested that if one or two additional seats can be arranged in each of the Government medical colleges, then all of the waitlisted candidates who could not secure admission under regular vacancy may be able to secure admission in several medical courses.

Stating that the government school students are often treated as 'second class citizens of the society', the court observed that there cannot be a better way than this to encourage the government school students in pursuing medical education, reports the daily.

Justice Anand Venkatesh also further added, "... the National Medical Commission will take into consideration the special circumstances that prevail in this particular case and as a one-time measure, allow the students to be accommodated by creating one or two additional seats in the existing 24 government medical colleges."

The court adjourned the plea to December 17.

In October, the Tamil Nadu government issued the Government Order (GO) for the implementation of 7.5 per cent quota within the existing reservation in MBBS, BDS and AYUSH courses for the students of state government higher secondary schools. As per the GO, 7.5 per cent of seats shall be set apart on a preferential basis to government school students qualifying in NEET, in admissions to MBBS, BDS, BSMS, BAMS, BUMS, and BHMS from the academic year 2020-21.

The setting apart of seats on a preferential basis is applicable to state quota seats in all government medical and dental colleges and all courses for which NEET has been prescribed as an eligibility criteria. It would be applicable also to seats allotted by the state government in self-financing medical and dental colleges, minority and non-minority (institutions) and under all disciplines, the G.O said.

Also Read: Govt Students get 7.5 Percent Quota In MBBS, BDS, AYUSH Courses: Tamil Nadu issues GO