Gujarat HC instructs to hold medical admissions till further clarity on EWS reservations

Gujarat HC is reported to have given instructions to the advocate general to stay state medical admissions for the upcoming academic year. The HC observed that till the disposal of the two petitions-one belonging to admissions under EWS category and another on NRI quota seats in self financed institutions; the admissions should be stayed. The issue pertains to the 10 per cent reservation for students under the EWS of non reserved category. The other one is about scrapping the NRI quota seats in self financing medical institutions.

During a hearing of the petition in the court, which challenged the dropping of NRI quota, the lawyer presented the argument by saying that admission should not be allowed; till the outcome of the petition is declared.

The chairman of the Admission Committee for Professional Medical Educational Courses (ACPMEC) Dr Bharat Shah implied that court instructions are awaited to start medical admissions in the state, which are likely to be delayed now.

Gujarat high court has also rejected the petition of the 15 CBSE students who had earlier filed a plea, against rules allowing CBSE students (who had completed their education before 2015-16) to seek medical admission this year. The rules allow CBSE students to seek medical admissions without their marks being cut. The 15 students are reported to be objecting to these rules.

EWS reservation came into implementation for all professional courses after the state government notified on demand by the Patidars.

Only later, people challenged the decision in the court the reserved seats could not be more than 50%. However, post this decision by the state government, the reservation was exceeding 60%.

Besides, the state government also took the decision to do away with the 15% seats under NRI quota from the self financing medical colleges from this academic session itself. Sources implied that this decision was taken by the state government in view of overseas Gujratis not being able to benefit from the NRI quota. Thirty per cent of NRI seats were going to permanent NRIs or NRIs from other states, with very few people of Gujarati origin.

It has now been recommended that NRI quota seats should be a part of the management quota. Following which, medical seats under management quota will be 25%, only offered to local candidates.

Express reported that there are no NRI quota in state-run six medical colleges where the total number of seats are 1,080. There are a total of 2,000 seats in 14 self-financed medical colleges.