Where is the Merit in PG Medical Admissions? With Maratha quota in place, Medicos to again approach HC

the implementation of 16% Maratha quota was done which left a meagre 5 % for candidates vying PG medical admission on merit basis.

Mumbai: The reservation issues in Post-Graduate (PG) Medical admissions continue to upset meritorious MBBS pass outs in the state.

In response against the newly implemented Maratha quota included in the admissions brochure without the Bombay High Court order on the same, PG medical aspirants are once again planning to approach Bombay High Court.

Earlier the students had filed petitions with the court seeking clarity on the quota.

As of now, in Maharashtra, 50 % of medical seats in government-run medical colleges are for reserved category (SC/ST/OBC/ VJNT). Out of the other 50% which is known as the open category; 14% of seats go to Persons with Disability (PwD), defence and other quotas. There is also a special quota (depending on eligible candidates) for students from the reserved categories who are eligible for an open quota seat based on their scores, ranging from 3%-5%.

In addition, with the earlier announcement that educational institutions will offer the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in the general category, 10% has been fixed for medical students related to EWS category.

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On November 30 last year, the Maharashtra Legislature passed a bill proposing 16 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the Marathas, declared Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) by the government and hence it decided to grant them the reservation.

Further, the implementation of 16% Maratha quota was done which left a meagre 5 % for candidates vying medical admission on merit basis.

This "policy" indeed created a stir in the admission process. The medical students, who can only take admission via merit, are anxious since there is, evidently, tough competition in medical admissions and with over 16 % quota gulping over the merit quota, the competition has become tougher than ever.

Noting the meagre percentage of seats, the PG medical aspirants had filed various petitions with the HC, which after considering the number of pleas had earlier directed that no admission will take place until the court announces order regarding the implementation.

The petitioners, in their pleas challenging the quota, had said that no state government could exceed the 50 per cent mark in reservations. At present, the percentage of reservation in Maharashtra stands at 68 per cent.

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Now, with no clarity from the HC on the implementation of Maratha Quota, the government had included reservations under the SEBC quota in the admissions brochure, which has upset the PG medical aspirants. In response to this, the students are planning to approach HC, reports HT. The medicos had also gathered to stage a protest a few days ago. However, they were not permitted to carry out the agitation owing to lack of permission.

"Since too many petitions were filed against the implementation of the Maratha quota, the HC had made it clear that it will not be implemented unless the court gives a clear direction in the matter. How can the government then introduce the quota without waiting for the final word from the HC?" asked a parent.

More than 4,100 aspirants have registered for these post-graduate seats, of whom, close to 55% are from the open category and they have less than 100 of the total 700 seats available to them in civic and government colleges.

After setting aside the required number for reservations, 22 seats are left in the open category for surgery, 16 seats in Gynaecology, eight in Radiology, three in Dermatology and seven in Opthalmology, according to a recent report by TOI.

The state's common entrance test (CET) cell had put up the seat matrix but removed it immediately thereafter as a decision on the Maratha quota is pending, alleged a student.

Registrations to PG medical admissions ended last week and the counselling sessions are likely to begin soon.

On March 12, during the HC hearing on the issue, the state government had claimed that the decision to implement Maratha quota reservation was legal and valid.

Read Also: Maratha quota is Valid, Legal: Maha Govt to HC

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that to enhance the percentage of doctors luring them to work in remote and tribal areas, the Maharashtra government has decided to implement reservation for UG medical (MBBS) and PG medical students.

the 'Maharashtra Designation of Seats for Under Graduate and Post Graduate Medical Courses bill 2019' has been drafted by the medical education and drugs department.

This bill entails a proposal to create a special reservation quota up to 10% in undergraduate (MBBS) and up to 20% in postgraduate (MD) medical seats in the state for those students who commit to working in tribal and remote areas for a substantial period.

Read Also: Soon- Reservation in MBBS, PG Medical for those who commit Tribal, Remote areas Service in Maharashtra