MCI opposes in SC state's eligibility norms for PG medical courses

The Karnataka government on Thursday defended before the Supreme Court its notification allowing only those with a minimum 10-year study in the state to qualify for government quota seats in postgraduate (PG) courses in medical colleges.

Senior advocate Basava Prabhu Patil, appearing for the state, submitted before a bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit that several other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Uttar Pradesh, have brought in similar criteria for admission.

A counsel, representing the regulatory body, Medical Council of India (MCI), opposed the contention, saying that according to rules such kind of eligibility cannot be introduced in PG courses as seats are very limited.

After a brief hearing, the bench, however, asked the counsel, appearing for the state government and the MCI to file their response to a writ petition filed by Dr Kriti Lakhina and 39 others, by March 21. The court is likely to hear the matter again on March 22.

During the hearing, advocate Amit Kumar, representing the petitioners, sought a direction to allow the candidates, non-Kannadigas, who studied their MBBS and BDS courses from the Karnataka colleges and cleared NEET Post Graduate-2018, to get themselves registered for the counselling.

"If we allow your petition, we will do everything to protect your interest," the bench said. The petitioners contended that the eligibility criteria prescribed in the information bulletin of the Karnataka Examinations Authority on March 10 are "illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory, unconstitutional and thus void being in clear violation of Articles 14, 15, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution".

It would jeopardise the prospects of candidates who studied MBBS and BDS from Karnataka, as now only those of Karnataka origin are eligible to apply for government quota seats in government and private medical colleges in the state. They also claimed the notification was contrary to Regulation 9 of Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 framed by MCI under Section 33 of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, which stated that admission to PG courses shall be strictly on the basis of merit.