HC relief to doctor, KEA slapped Rs 5 lakh cost for blocking MD Radio Diagnosis seat

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which has the responsibility of conducting counselling for UG and PG medical seats in the State, has recently been slapped with Rs 5 lakh cost for blocking a Postgraduate medical seat in MD-Radio Diagnosis, depriving an eligible in-service candidate.

Allegedly, KEA allotted the seat to a candidate, who had already withdrawn from the counselling, and later moved the seat to the mop-up round and allowed an ineligible candidate to opt for the same.

Granting relief to the doctor, who had originally opted for the seat and approached the HC bench, the court set aside the seat allotment by KEA. Further, the bench also directed KEA to allot the seat to the petitioner doctor and also ordered the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) to issue necessary instructions to M R Medical College (MRMC), Kalaburgi to admit the petitioner doctor and allow her to attend the classes.

"The KEA is an instrumentality of the State government. Any illegal act by anyone much less an instrumentality of the State cannot be tolerated... Candidates desirous of obtaining seats for the undergraduation and postgraduation courses repose immense trust with the KEA. Therefore, the KEA is bound to practice a fair and transparent method..." observed the HC bench at this outset.

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As per the latest media report by The Hindu, the HC bench comprising Justices P.S Dinesh and T.G. Shivashankare Gowda made these observations while considering a plea filed by an in-service doctor of the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The concerned doctor is working at the Primary Health Centre, Anegola, K.R. Pet taluk in Mandya District.

According to the petitioner doctor, she applied for a PG medical seat under the in-service quota in 2023 and appeared in the NEET PG examination for the same. She had opted for the MD-Radio Diagnosis course at M.R. Medical College (MRMC), Kalaburgi and it was among the seats reserved for the in-service candidates.

The petitioner alleged that she chose MS-Obstetrics and Gynaecology seat in a Bengaluru-based college as KEA gave an impression that the MD-Radio Diagnosis seat was already filled. However, later she got to know that the MD Radio Diagnosis seat at M.R. Medical College was not offered in the second round even though it was available.

When she analysed the seat allotment records of KEA, the HC bench observed that the MD-Radio Diagnosis seat was incorrectly shown as allotted to a candidate, who was withdrawn from the counselling more than 15 days ago. However, KEA offered this seat in the mop-up round and consequently, a candidate not belonging to the in-service category was allowed to opt for the seat.

The New Indian Express adds that the Court set aside the seat allotment and directed KEA to allot the seat to the petitioner doctor. Further, the court also ordered the DME to issue necessary directions to the MRMC, Kalaburgi to admit the petitioner student and permit her to attend classes. Apart from this, the bench also said that KEA shall ensure that the fee paid by the petitioner for MS-Obstetrics and Gynaecology would be adjusted towards her seat in MD Radiodiagnosis.

Among the Rs 5 lakh that the court has imposed on KEA, the authority needs to pay Rs 2.5 lakh to the petitioner and the remaining sum to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority.

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