Hyderabad HC directs to hold counseling for PG medical seats in GMCs

Hyderabad HC has taken a decision to hold the counseling for unfilled PG medical seats in GMCs in Telangana and AP. The issue dates back to the month of May this year, when many junior doctors protested against the implementation of web counseling for PG medical admissions, introduced this year. Junior doctors expressed their anguish over the ongoing procedure, fearing that many students will not be able to make it through the merit list for admissions in government and private institutes.

Web counselling had been introduced this year to fill almost 1,900 seats in both these states. The decision was met by stiff opposition from Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (TJUDA) and Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors' Association (APJUDA), after NTR University of Health Sciences' (NTRUHS) to implement web based counseling for the 2016-17 academic session. However, no attention has been paid to the demands of the junior doctors, and the first phase of the counselling was conducted from April 22 to 28.

Continuing in support of their argument, Telangana Junior Doctors Association have alleged that there are reported instances where high ranking officials have gone ahead in blocking seats in both states. One seat has been blocked in each state. The association's count confirms that more than 200 seats have been blocked in this way. Following which, many students now fear that by the time counselling is over, they will not be left with seats for admission this academic year.

The two-judge bench at the HC has chosen not to get into the said issues, while clearly expressing their concern about the unfulfilled seats in the two-state GMCs.

S V Simhadri, counsel for the petitioner also implied that the candidates are not to be blamed for the irregularities. They should be granted seats, by filling it. It is further reported that 82 seats in AP and 32 seats in Telangana are still vacant.

According to a media report on the issue, Vivek Chandrasekhar, counsel for the Medical Council, pointed out that the MCI was bound to go strictly by the schedule fixed by the Apex Court.

Speaking for the bench Justice Ramasubramanian pointed out that non-filling of over 100 seats at the postgraduate level would not only be a huge waste of public money but would also cause huge damage to public interest and public welfare. The bench directed that the counselling should be held on July 23 and directed the batch of cases to be listed on July 27.