Remove domicile reservation in super-specialty medical courses: SC to TN govt

Tamil Nadu: The Supreme Court has reiterated its earlier judgement on making medical education "unreserved, open, and free". This is in view of retaining the best talent in medical education. Giving its due consideration, the apex court has now directed the Tamil Nadu government to do away with its current state policy of providing admissions (on an exclusive basis) to super speciality medical courses to domicile aspirants. The state government has also been directed to forgo any exclusivity granted for super-speciality medical courses to students who are pursuing their medical PG here. It is to encourage the state to accept applicants from other states, beginning this academic year itself.

In an interim order by the apex court, the date of accepting online application for the said course has been given extension by three days from July 2. This will help the state to garner wide visibility, inviting application from different corners of India, for aspirants who wish to pursue super-speciality courses in the State. The exams are to be held on July 10.

The state is represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi and B. Balaji in turn have presented their argument in favor of the SC order by implying that half of the students completing their PG here belong to other states already. It ensures an all-India representation anyways.

However, in reaction to the state government contending that state policy for admission to super-specialty medical courses is to target more aspirants from the state, the apex court has even said that it will cancel the July 10 exams, if its decision is not followed now.

The same situation of seat reservation policy was earlier dealt in AP and Telangana effectively. The Centre's counsel submission now highlights that Tamil Nadu is the only state still following the domicile policy. Now, the SC bench has scheduled hearing on detailed matter on July 14.

In 2015, a Bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice P.C. Pant had dealt with the situation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, ordering both States to drop its policy of reserving seats for super specialty medical courses to only students domiciled there. The court had decided to deal with Tamil Nadu's case separately.

"The fond hope has remained in the sphere of hope although there has been a progressive change. The said privilege remains unchanged, as if to compete with eternity," Mr. Misra had said , as accessed by Hindu. It had also asked Andhra Pradesh and Telangana authorities to objectively assess the policy to see whether it does justice to the aspirations of students and approach the issue keeping national interest as paramount. The petition had pointed out how students from other States such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana, allow candidates from throughout India to appear in their entrance examinations.

The judgment had recorded the frustration of the students against the "clear disparity and state of inequality".