Explain why open category PG Medical Seats have gone down: Bombay HC to DMER
Mumbai: Yet another matter on Post Graduate (PG) medical admissions in Maharashtra was heard in Bombay High Court recently. This time, the issue pertained to the seat matrix hearing which the court, while not staying the admission process, has directed the Maharashtra government to explain why the number of seats in the open category for PG medical courses decreased in this academic year of 2020-21.
The direction was based on the petition filed by doctors who raised concerns on the allocation of seat matrix for admission to PG medical courses in the state and challenged the same.
Through the plea, the counsel on behalf of the petitioner doctors notified the court about the aggregate for open category seats in Maharashtra. For the year 2019, there were 972 PG medical seats in the state, of which 330 were in the open category.
With the introduction of 10 per cent reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category last year, the government claimed seats for PG medical courses would be increased by 25 per cent.
However, for this academic year, the number of seats was shown as 1,168 but the seats in the open category were only 327, which is three seats lesser than the previous year. The petitioners' counsel said that there were 16 fewer seats in open category and 17 in clinical branch.
On this, the State lawyer sought time to respond to the rejoinder. The issues mentioned in the rejoinder are the decrease in seats for open category students, decrease in seats in clinical branch and non-consideration of additional seats in individual subjects and individual government medical colleges, reports HT.
The bench of Justice N J Jamadar then directed the state government and the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) to file an affidavit explaining why the total number of PG seats for the open category for the year 2020-21 was less than those for the year 2019 despite the claim of 25 per cent increase in seats.
The authorities have been directed to also file an affidavit on "what is the rationale for not taking into consideration additional seats in individual subjects and government medical colleges?'' And what consequences would it have had on open category seats, adds TOI.
The court stated, "The selection process may proceed but the same shall be subject to the outcome of any order passed in this petition.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on May 19.
Medical Dialogues had recently reported about the resumption of the PG medical admission procedure in the state following a halt to it.
Notices informing about the effect were issued on the official website of Maha CET Cell regarding cancellation of AIQ Seat before Joining State Quota Seat and the publication of selection list of PG medical candidates.
