HC upholds Gujrat University decision to prefer own students in PG medical courses

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat University's policy decision to give preference to its own students for admission to PG medical courses for the academic year 2017-18 was upheld by the Gujarat High Court on Thursday.

The High Court was responding to a petition filed by nine students of other universities, opposing the varsity's decision on grounds that it was discriminatory to other students.The petitioners had made party all other candidates selected for the PG courses in the litigation.

The students submitted that as per the Supreme Court ruling of September 22, 2016, the state government should conduct admission to such courses only via a centralized system based on student's score in NEET-PG exam (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation medical courses). The petitioners had demanded that such practice already exists in the under-graduate medical programs and after NEET judgment, it would be applicable in the PG admission too.

After hearing the petitioners, the state government, the university, the Medical Council of India and the central government, a bench of Chief Justice R S Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi rejected the petition, questioning the policy of the university.

NEET-PG was conducted between December 5 and 13 2016 and the result was declared in January 2017. Prior to the Supreme Court intervention in the case, all the universities, including Gujarat University, had control over admission to 50% of the seats in PG medical courses and gave preference to their own students, over students from other universities.

On October 10, 2016 the Gujarat University decided to stay with the stated pattern of selection to its PG courses, giving preference to its own students first. This decision has led to students from other universities being given admission in PG courses in Gujarat University only, if any of the seats are left vacant or fall vacant for some reason.

Gujarat University has about 60% of the total PG medical seats offered by various universities in Gujarat; 283 out of the total 793 MD seats are offered by the Gujarat University; GU offers 160 MD seats out of total 396 across Gujarat; GU offers 38 DM seats out of total 40 across Gujarat;48 MCh seats out of 55 across Gujarat.GU-affiliated medical colleges also offer more variety of degree and diploma courses.In super specialty courses, Gujarat University has a lion's share reports the TOI.