Karnataka: PG medical, dental seats under NRI quota to be filled as per HC order

The High Court of Karnataka has made it clear that vacant NRI quota seats shall only be filled through the common counselling authority and not through college managements. The court also clarifies that all admissions to post graduate medical courses under the NRI management quota in medical and dental colleges in the state for the academic year 2017–18 are subject to Court's order.

The above interim order was passed by a division bench comprising of Justice John Michael Cunha and Justice H.G. Ramesh on Tuesday based on the observation that the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) after carrying out two counselling rounds to fill NRI seats had released a few vacant NRI quota seats to private college managements.

The bench retiterated that the NRI quota cannot exceed 15% of the total intake as per norms and would be restricted to NRI Children or their wards as per the apex court's verdict.

The Bench stated that MCI's Regulation 9A made allotment of seat through a common counselling authority based on NEET ranking compulsory.

"Any admission made contrary to Regulation 9A is void. Even if seats fall vacant in any category for any reason, such seats shall be filled only through the common counselling authority provided under Regulation 9A. No vacant seats shall be filled without the said seats being allotted by the common counselling authority," the court observed while make it clear that any term in any consensual agreement [between the State authorities and the private college managements] to the contrary is void as it is in violation of Regulation 9A.

The court further observed that every college, officer or authority who disobeys or fails to strictly comply with this order is liable for action under the Contempt of Courts Act, reports Hindu.