INI CET: Supreme Court directs all AIIMS to follow JIPMER like roster for Institutional Preference Candidates
New Delhi: Putting an end to the concerns of institutional preference candidates in INI-CET examination, the Supreme Court on Friday directed all the AIIMS institutes to adopt roster based reservation followed by Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry (JIPMER).
Such a direction came from the top court bench comprising of after it took note of the submission of Mr. Parashar, the counsel for AIIMS. Mr. Parashar informed the bench that AIIMS New Delhi and all the other AIIMS would henceforth follow the philosophy of the JIPMER system by creating their own roasters.
Accordingly, the bench observed, "We direct that the roster point based reservation for preferential candidates as followed by JIPMER be implemented in all the AIIMS. However, the roster points need not be similar to that of JIPMER."
INI CET is conducted to admit medical students in several postgraduate courses in 11 prominent medical institutions including AIIMS, New Delhi, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry (JIPMER).
The admission in the seats under the INI-CET examination are filled via two separate entries- institutional preference (50%) and open competition (50%). While the eligibility criteria for both these channels are same, only JIPMER has a mechanism (roaster system) for allocating seats to institutional preference candidates.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Students Association of AIIMS Bhopal had approached the top court and sought a defined criterion for determining the seat matrix for the institutional preference candidates in the INI-CET examination. Further, the plea requested for roaster-wise/ discipline wise seat allocation for institutional preference candidates seeking admission via the INI-CET entrance test.
Also Read: SC to Hear Plea Demanding JIPMER Roster Model for AIIMS Admission On January 24
The plea argued that the students were facing troubles and hardships due to the fact that there was no defined mechanism for seat allocation to those coming from the Institutional preference route.
Resultantly, the students were unable to secure seats in the desired/sort after disciplines. In fact, even when the students were eligible, they were deprived of institutional preference.
Back in 2003, the Supreme Court 5-Judge bench in the case of Saurabh Chaudri v. Union of India had upheld institutional preference in Post Graduate Medical courses. This was reiterated by the top court in Yatin Kumar Jasubhai Patel v. State of Gujarat and the bench had extended the institutional preference to admission post-NEET.
However, the petitioners have alleged that since the mechanism for allotting seats to institutional preference candidates were not specified, this was creating an obstacle for the candidates who are failing to secure seats in their preferred courses.
During the last hearing of the case, the bench took note of the fact that apart from AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and AIIMS, Jodhpur, all other AIIMS before the Supreme Court had agreed to implement the roster-based reservation system followed by JIPMER for the institutional preference candidates.
Considering this information, the top court bench had previously directed Advocate, Mr. Dushyant Parashar, appearing on behalf of AIIMS, New Delhi to obtain instructions from AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and Jodhpur so that the bench could pass the order.
As per the latest media report by Live Law, during the hearing of the case on Friday, the counsel for the petitioner association, Ms. Charu Mathur Bench urged the bench to record in the order that the roaster system would be applicable from this year. In response, the counsel for AIIMS, Mr. Parashar informed that the process might get delayed since new software is to be put in place for counselling
Taking note of this, the bench noted, "We will say it would apply for this year, but you (AIIMS) can come later in case of delay."
Addressing the counsel for AIIMS Jodhpur and Bhubaneswar, the bench further asked, "If all the AIIMS have agreed then what is your problem? We will say for all AIIMS."
At this outset, Mr. Parashar submitted to the bench, "AIIMS, New Delhi and all other AIIMS submit that they will follow the philosophy of the JIPMER system and create their own rosters."
Consequently, the bench directed all the AIIMS institutes to follow the roaster model of JIPMER and noted, "We direct that the roster point based reservation for preferential candidates as followed by JIPMER be implemented in all the AIIMS. However, the roster points need not be similar to that of JIPMER."
