Medical admissions: 10 percent EWS quota challenged in Bombay High Court

Mumbai: 10 per cent reservations in the general category for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in medical courses in Maharashtra has been challenged in the Bombay High Court recently by a group of students.

As of now, in Maharashtra, 50 % of medical seats in government-run medical colleges are for reserved category (SC/ST/OBC/ VJNT). Out of the other 50% which is known as the open category; 14% of seats go to Persons with Disability (PwD), defence and other quotas. There is also a special quota (depending on eligible candidates) for students from the reserved categories who are eligible for an open quota seat based on their scores, ranging from 3%-5%.

Read Also: Maratha quota in Medical Admissions: Bombay HC to reach conclusion

The quota will be provided from the academic year 2019-20, in both private and government-aided colleges.

The petitioners contend that the decision is discriminatory as it takes the overall reservation to 76 per cent, leaving very few seats for remaining students in the open category.

Advocate Satish Talekar, their lawyer, said as per its own rules, the government is required to notify and publish a decision providing reservation in education at least six months before a new academic year begins.

Read Also: Maratha quota is Valid, Legal: Maha Govt to HC

It failed to do so in this case, he said.

A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre is likely to take up the matter for the further hearing Thursday.

Medical Dialogues has been constantly reporting about the reservation issues in the state Post-Graduate (PG) Medical admissions that continue to upset meritorious MBBS pass outs in the state.