Dual Nativity for MBBS admissions: Madras HC notice to 126 MBBS students

Madhurai: A group of 126 MBBS students are likely to fall in controversy as the Madhurai Bench of Madras High Court has issued a notice to the medical students, who have got admission under the state Government quota for the current academic year, based on certificates submitted by them which reveals dual-nativity.

This comes after the admission of 126 MBBS students were challenged by 5 MBBS aspirants namely G. Somnath, K. Neya, V.C Ajithvass and A.M. Srilaya, who filed separate writ petitions in order to ascertain their nativity.

It is highlighted by advocate K.K. Kannan, representing the petitioners, that the 126 students allotted seats under the State government quota had their permanent addresses outside Tamil Nadu.

For the MBBS admissions in Tamil Nadu this year, 15% (506 seats) were reserved under All-India quota of the 3,250 medical seats in 23 medical colleges in the state while 2,744 seats were available under government quota in government colleges. The government quota in private colleges is 977 seats of which 562 are filled up by the management and 269 allotted for NRIs.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Students file petition for fresh MBBS counselling; HC issues notice to MCI, State

The petitioners alleged that candidates from outside the State had participated in the NEET counselling for the State government quota, who were placed in the rank list of 85% state government quota which was only meant for admitting students from Tamil Nadu.

The petitioner further submitted that the counselling conducted for the allotment of medical seats under the state government quota was improper as the prospectus of the government quota mandated that the candidates should be natives of Tamil Nadu.

However, the prospectus issued for the management quota has no mention about the nativity of the candidates. This could probably pave way for candidates from outside the state to secure medical seats which would apparently block opportunity for the native students.

As per a recent media report by TOI, Justice R Suresh Kumar suo motu impleaded 126 MBBS students as a party to a writ petition.

"The 126 students have been allotted seats. To ascertain their nativity, they have to be heard. Without hearing them, an order could not be passed," stated the judge and ordered notice to the MBBS aspirants.

Prior to this, the court had directed the Selection Committee to submit a report is these 126 students were admitted in the 85% seats under government quota or the 15% all India quota (AIQ).