SC sets aside Allahabad HC order on PG medical seats after AMU, BHU plea

The Supreme Court order came on the plea of BHU and AMU. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

The Supreme Court order came on the plea of BHU and AMU. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the Allahabad High Court’s 29 May order which had quashed 50% institutional preference in admission to PG medical seats.

A vacation bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and Deepak Gupta said institutes like the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and the government-run medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh will continue conducting counselling and fill up the seats by 12 June.

The high court on 29 May had passed an order allowing to fill up the 50% institutional quota seats in PG medical courses in these two central universities and other government-run universities for students from any medical college based on their ranking in NEET.

The apex court order came on the plea of BHU and AMU contending that the high court verdict was violative of earlier apex court judgement and Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations which allow institutes to take admissions on 50% seats from their own institution.

Both these central universities had got the support from the MCI, which had argued that the high court has erred in interpreting the laid down regulations.

Additional solicitor general Maninder Singh, appearing for BHU, had sought immediate stay of the high court’s order saying the “entire apple cart” cannot be reversed.

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for the AMU, had said some students have already been admitted by the varsities under the 50% quota, therefore the high court verdict needs to be stayed.

[“Source-ndtv”]