Direct MCI to implement EWS quota in private medical colleges: Govt tells HC

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has sent a proposal to the Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India (MCI BoG) to increase the MBBS seats in all medical colleges including private and unaided medical colleges in the state under 10% Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota.

The information to this effect was made via an affidavit before the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court.

"Unless the BOG increases intake capacity for MBBS seats in existing private unaided medical colleges, the EWS quota can't be made applicable. If BOG accepts proposal to increase 10% seats, it would benefit poor students," the government said.

Earlier, the HC had directed the state to submit an affidavit praying for implementation of EWS quota in Maharashtra's private and unaided medical colleges. The direction came in view of a petition filed by a student who sought directives by the court on the increase of MBBS seats in all medical colleges in order to accommodate more students under the EWS quota.

Medical Dialogues has been reporting extensively about the implementation of EWS quota. The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill on providing 10 per cent EWS reservation in jobs and education to the general category poor was passed by Parliament on January 9.

As per the policy, 10 per cent will be reserved for EWS quota and for its implementation, increments in the PG medical and MBBS seats will be made at various government medical colleges. For the same, MCI had asked the DMEs, state secretaries, heads of medical colleges and universities of various states to furnish details of the course wise seats at the various medical colleges

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the MCI BoG increased the MBBS seats by 4,465 in view of the EWS reservation in over 132 medical colleges across the country.

By the MCI and Ministry's nod, 20 medical colleges from Maharashtra succeeded in raising their MBBS seats by 970 in total.

It was also announced that for next academic session, 2,000 more MBBS seats will be added in Maharashtra.

Read Also: Maharashtra: 970 MBBS seats added by MCI; 2000 more to come next year\

However, the MBBS seats have been increased in only state government medical colleges.

Subsequently, State Medical Education and Drugs Department issued a GR on June 27 for EWS quota in Maharashtra. The proposal was forwarded to increase these seats under EWS quota to MCI, where it is pending.

Now, on the directions of the High Court, the state has dispatched a proposal to the MCI BoG to increase seats in all medical colleges in the state under 10% EWS quota. Therefore, the BOG should be directed to accept the proposal and increase the seats accordingly, the government said in the affidavit; quotes TOI.