Backward Caste United Forum lauds SC order on GO 550

Vijayawada: Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on the implementation of GO 550 with respect to medical seats, the Backward Caste United Forum demanded the government to cancel the first and second phase of medical counselling to do justice to the backward caste students.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, leaders of Backward Castes United Forum, Kolanukonda Shivaji, Budda Nageswara Rao and B Sekhar Babu regretted the fact that the backward castes have been deprived of 700 medical seats owing to the High Court's verdict implementing GO 550.

Mr. Shivaji welcomed the apex court's verdict and thanked the Chandrababu Naidu led government for approaching the Supreme Court to get a stay order on the High Court's judgment on the GO 550. However, Mr. Shivaji alleged that the government's hesitation to approach the Supreme Court for a long time resulted in the backward caste medical students losing 700 medical seats.

"To do justice to the medical students belonging to the backward caste, the first and the second phase of medical counselling should be canceled," he asked the government.

Mr. Shivaji, who is also an APCC (Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee) spokesperson, pointed out that the Supreme Court in its judgment has asked the state government not to disturb the present counselling system. The government should refer to legal opinion in this regard, he said and asked the government to take steps to allocate seats to the backward caste students in the convener quota.

Mr. Shivaji blamed NTR Health University Vice-Chancellor for the delay in approaching the Supreme Court. Adding to the woes of the backward students, the Medical Council of India (MCI) is reducing the number of medical seats in the state, citing lack of infrastructure and other facilities in various medical colleges, he further added. Backward caste leaders B Nageswara Rao and Sekhar Babu also spoke at the press conference.

Read also: MBBS admissions in Telangana: Supreme Court reverses High Court Order on GO 550