Telangana Doctors ask Govt to Scrap 15% Quota for AP students in all Medical Colleges

Hyderabad: Doctors in Telangana have requested the Government for extending its new rule of scrapping 15% reservation for Andhra Pradesh medical students in new colleges to the existing medical colleges in the State as well.

The doctors in the State started raising this demand after the Andhra Pradesh Government recently declared that the Telangana students are not eligible for 15% unreserved category seats, which have been increased in Andhra Pradesh after June 2nd, 2014, and in the new colleges established thereafter.

Meanwhile, Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that Telangana Government stopped the 15% unreserved quota for admissions in 36 medical colleges in the State, which were established after the formation of the new State of Telangana.

Earlier, these seats were open for the admission of students from the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh as well. However, recently the State issued orders and made 100% of seats available only for the State domicile students.

Issuing a Government Order, recently Secretary of Medical and Health, Sam Rizvi amended the rules of admission to the State medical colleges in Telangana. The order stated, “These amendments have been made in accordance with the AP Reorganization Act and Article 371D of the Constitution.”

Also Read: Telangana junks 15 percent non-reserved Quota in 36 medical colleges

According to the amended rules, all the medical seats in the competitive authority quota in medical colleges constituted after June 2, 2014, will be filled up exclusively by the students from the State.

While this order was limited only for the medical colleges constituted after June 2014, now the doctors in Telangana have demanded that this modification of rule should be extended for the existing medical colleges as well.

Recently writing to Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao, the doctors under Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) pointed out that as per the G.O dated 15 July, 2023, the Andhra Pradesh Government declared that Telangana students are not eligible for 15% unreserved category seats, which have been increased in Andhra Pradesh after June 2nd, 2014, and in new colleges established after that.

On the other hand, TJUDA pointed out that Telangana Government issued a Prospectus for admission into PG medical degree and diploma courses for the academic year 2023-2024 on 8 July, 2023.

"However, there was no mention of Andhra Pradesh students' eligibility for the 15% unreserved category seats (increased seats) in existing colleges after June 2nd, 2014, in our Prospectus," the association mentioned in the letter dated 24.07.2023.

"This discrepancy poses a significant disadvantage to Telangana students, potentially hindering their access to higher education opportunities. We earnestly request your esteemed office to investigate this matter and take necessary actions to ensure fair and transparent admission processes for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh students," the letter further stated.

On July 25th, the representatives from the association met with the Health Minister and explained about the loss that the PG medical aspirants in Telangana are facing with the recent G.O. released by Andhra Pradesh Government.

"Sir immediately spoke to our Health Secretary Rizvi sir to see the possibilities of issuing a similar G.O (i.e removal of 15% quota for increased PG seats in existing colleges before june 2nd 2014 for AP students in Telangana)," stated a release from the association.

"With this around 200 Telangana PG seats would be alloted to only Telangana students if government takes a decision immediately, as state counseling process is about to start very soon," the association further mentioned in the release.

However, speaking to Medical Dialogues, the President of T JUDA, Dr Kaushik Kumar Pinjarala informed that there is no response from the Government yet in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Government's decision of reserving 100% MBBS/BDS seats under the convener quota only to the students belonging to Telangana has been challenged before the Telangana High Court bench.

While considering a plea filed by a resident of Andhra Pradesh and his daughter, a Division bench of HC comprising Acting Chief Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao has issued notices to the State Government and other authorities in this regard.

Also Read: HC Issues Notice to Telangana Govt, NMC over Reservation of 100 percent MBBS, BDS seats under convener quota only to State Candidates