One MBBS seat to be kept vacant for candidate with 55% disability: HC to college

Chennai: The Madras High Court based on a petition filed by a girl with 55% upper limb disability has asked that a seat in an MBBS college be kept vacant for her. A. Mathumita ( 18), has challenged medical college admission rules which have debar her from the study of medicine

The aspirant wrote the NEET exam this year and qualified it as well. She was in for a surprise when the college authorities declined admission to her under the physically handicapped (PH) category. The reason given by them was people with upper limb disability were ineligible as per clauses (1)(k), VIII (40)(iii)(a) and (e), which summarily excluded such candidates.

Justice K Ravichandra Baabu, of the Madras High Court, in his directive to the Selection Committee and the Directorate of Medical Education stated that a seat be kept vacant vacant in the MBBS course for 2017-18 for A Mathumitha till July 25. The court also directed that a counter affidavit be filed by then.

Madhumita's petition further submitted that MBBS was a basic course, based on which several specialized PG courses, namely clinical and non-clinical could be studied. Candidates with clinical degrees (medicine and surgery categories) alone could practice and treat patients. Whereas, non-clinical medical experts dealt with research, development and laboratory oriented jobs, with doctorate designations .

Keeping the above in mind, the petitioner contended that candidates with upper limb disabilities did not deserve a blanket denial of admission. She further said there were non-clinical courses like microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and community medicines which she could do.

"Therefore, the blanket ban on admission to MBBS course for candidates with upper limb disability is irrational, arbitrary and discriminatory and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution," petitioner contended, reports HT.