Allahabad HC scraps state decision on domicile in PG Medical Admissions

Lucknow: The state's recently issued provision granting eligibility to domicile PG medical candidates, who had obtained admission under All India Quota and completed MBBS from medical colleges situated outside Uttar Pradesh; for admission to PG courses in the state through NEET PG 2019; has been ruled out by the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

The verdict came in view of the petition filed by MBBS graduates from King George's Medical University (KGMU), who domiciled from other states.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the official notice informing about the said provision. The notice uploaded on the official website of UPDGME had stated:

The Candidates who are domiciled in the State of Uttar Pradesh and who have obtained admission under 15 % All India Quota / AIIMS/ Central Government Institutions for MBBS Course in the Medical College/Institution situated outside Uttar Pradesh state and who have obtained the degree from a University situated outside the state of Uttar Pradesh will also be eligible for selection process of Neet-PG. 2019. Such Candidates should submit (i) certificate from the Principal /Dean of respective Medical College stating that the candidate was admitted under 15% All India Quota/ AIIMS/ Central Government Institutions for MBBS Course- and (ii) Candidates domicile certificate of Uttar Pradesh state by virtue of residence issued by competent authority.

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This notification developed resentment among the PG medical candidates who have completed their MBBS in the state. MBBS passouts from KGMU consequently moved the court against this decision by the state medical education department contending that in other states, domiciles students are given preference and are admitted in PG courses on priority in their own state.

TOI reports that allowing the writ petition, a bench of Justice Alok Mathur said,

"The parties are at liberty to proceed with the counselling of the candidates selected through NEET PG-2019 for admission to the state quota of seats of postgraduate MD/MS/MDS courses in various government and private medical/dental colleges/institutions/state university and PG diploma courses, etc, on the basis of merit list prepared as per the eligibility for admission as per the schedule detailed in the UP Counselling Brochure."

In conclusion, Justice Mathur ordered,

"The state government by permitting students domiciled in Uttar Pradesh to participate in the counselling for NEET PG-2019 against the seats of state quota, is in sense giving 'preference', when looked into the fact that students who are domicile of other states having studied outside Uttar Pradesh are not allowed to participate in the selection process."

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