Punjab to move SC against HC order on preparing fresh merit list for Rural Medical Officers

Ludhiana: The recent Punjab High Court order directing the state government to come up with a fresh merit list of post graduate admissions in the state’s medical colleges by giving 30 per cent incentive to rural medical officers (RMO) based on their National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) ranks, under the state quota seats, has got the Punjab Government up in arms against the decision. The state has decided to redress court by moving a Special Leave Petition(SLP) against the court order.

The court’s decision to grant 30% incentive to RMO’s comes based on a petition filed by them demanding similar benefits as given to the PCMS recruitments. RMOs are appointed in health centres run by zila parishads. The court having accepted their plea has asked for a fresh admission list to be made, which is to include RMOs based on their NEET rankings.

Doctors need to score 50% marks in NEET for exam clearance and if they have a year’s experience in rural areas, 10 per cent weightage is to be given in marks followed by 20 per cent for two and 30 per cent for three years.

MCI regulation 9a with regards to incentives read reads

“In determining the merit of candidates who are in the service of government or a public authority, weightage in marks may be given by the government/competent authority as an incentive @ 10% of the marks obtained for each year of service in specified remote or difficult areas of the state up to the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in NEET.”

Read more at Medical Dialogues: SC hears MCI, State Medical Council on incentive marks weightage

Students who have already got admission and have paid their fee, in accordance with the already published list, fear that the fresh list when made may not have their names figuring in it.

“Based on the recent HC order, we will be filing an SLP in SC against it,” said Medical Education Secretary, Vikas Partap.

“Rural medical officers working under zila parishads have been the worst affected in the past 10 years. They have been willfully denying rural service benefit for PG courses. Both SAD/BJP and Congress governments have ignored the apex court judgement and issued notifications opposite to it. Ignoring the HC order, the state government also continued with counselling sessions and admissions. the chief minister should conduct an inquiry. However, we will fight till end,” said Rural Medical Services Association President, Punjab, Dr Aslam Parvez to Indian Express.