Tamil Nadu govt moves SC against HC's order on applying 50% quota for OBCs in medical courses

The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court's order declining to issue an order to the Centre to implement 50% reservation for OBCs in all India quota seats in medical courses in the state.

The high court had on June 22 allowed a plea by the Centre, the Medical Council of India (MCI) and others to keep the petition filed by the state in abeyance since a similar plea was coming up for consideration before the top court on July 8.

The state government contended that the high court's decision was tantamount to denying relief as the time was running out for filling up the seats.

It asked the top court to direct the Centre to provide 50% reservation for backward classes in admission to the seats shared by it in all India quota in undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses in the academic year 2020-21, subject to the outcome of the matter.

According to the Medical Council of India’s Regulations, 1997, 15% of seats in all undergraduate medical colleges and 50% in all postgraduate medical colleges are surrendered to the all India quota.

The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1993, provided for 50% reservation for OBCs, besides 18% for SCs and 1% for STs.

On June 11, the top court had declined to consider a batch of petitions filed by DMK, AIADMK, CPI(M), the Tamil Nadu government and others for implementing 50% reservations for OBCs in medical courses in all India quota seats in colleges in the state. The petitioners had then preferred to approach the High Court.