HC warns KEA to comply with its orders on seats for OCI students

The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday directed Manjunath D, executive director, Karnataka Examinations Authority to strictly comply with the court directions to consider Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) students for medical and dental admissions under categories other than government and NRI seats.

Hearing a contempt petition filed by two OCI students, a division bench comprising Justices Jayant Patel and S Sujatha said that if court orders are not complied with, the court will aggravate the contempt against the executive director of the KEA.

The students have questioned the government notification dated July 19 which states that 15% of the total intake of medical colleges will be filled by students including NRI children, OCIs, PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) and foreigners. These students will not be eligible for admissions in any other category of seats.

The students have contended that when the court had earlier passed an order directing the government to allot seats in all categories to OCI students other than NRI and government quota, the government through a notification is insisting OCI students to take up NRI quota seats.

Petitioners’ counsel Ajoy Kumar Patil said that first round of counselling concluded on Wednesday and OCI students are not allowed to choose the institutional seats in private medical colleges, which has resulted in students losing out seats in the best medical colleges.

Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna said that the government has entered into a consensual agreement with medical colleges where in OCI students are not eligible to apply for other seats besides those under the NRI quota.

The bench observed that the government entering into consensual agreement after the court orders is breach of its orders. The court in the order said that the government is creating a situation which is frustrating it in enforcing the judicial order. The bench has directed the state government to clarify its stand in the matter and adjourned the hearing to Thursday.