SC permits Tamil Nadu to allot 50% superspecialty medical seats to in-service candidates

In a major victory for Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay its decision allocating 50 per cent superspecialty seats in government medical colleges to NEET-qualified in-service candidates.

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai permitted the state government to continue providing 50 per cent quota for in-service candidates in superspeciality courses in its colleges.

“We are of the view that no case is made out for continuing the interim protection which was granted for the academic year 2020-21 by interim order dated November 27, 2020. Thus we reject the prayer in that regard. Needless to say, that the state of Tamil Nadu would be at liberty to continue counselling for the academic year…by taking into consideration reservations provided by the state, said the bench,” said the bench.

It then ordered a listing of a batch of petitions for further hearing after Holi vacation from Thursday.

The top court, on March 14, had reserved order on the pleas challenging the Tamil Nadu government decision allocating 50 per cent superspecialty seats in government medical colleges to NEET-qualified in-service candidates.

State government plea

The state government, represented by Additional Advocate General (AAG) Amit Anand Tiwari, had vehemently argued that if such a decision is stayed, it will not only impact accessibility of quality medical care by poor and rural people but also lead to a situation where the courses will have to be closed down due to lack of qualified teachers.

The AAG had also pointed out that about 70 per cent of non-service candidates even do not fulfil the bond conditions of compulsory service. The state had vehemently defended the government order (GO) of 2020 by which it had directed that 50 per cent of the superspecialty seats (DM/ M.Ch.) in government medical colleges are allocated to NEET qualified in-service candidates of Tamil Nadu and the remaining 50 per cent seats are allocated to the Government of India / Director General of Health Services.

The apex court had heard a battery of advocates including senior lawyers Dushyant Dave, Shyam Divan, and Gopal Sankarnarayanan for petitioners and Additional Advocate General Amit Anand Tiwari argued for the state government.

“It is trite that allocation of seats for in-service candidates is not in the nature of a reservation but is a separate source of admission; secondly, the state is empowered to provide for such separate source of admission which is a policy decision to serve a larger public interest, and the same, in no way, compromises the minimum standards prescribed by the Central legislation,” Tiwari had argued.

Power of state 

The Tamil Nadu government had said the prescribing of quota for in-service candidates is a separate source of entry and not a reservation and it serves the laudable purpose sought to be achieved by making special provisions for such doctors who would be then available for serving in rural areas.

Taking away the power of the state to provide for sources of admission would violate the federal structure and lead to complete centralisation of policy-making in areas where the state is competent to make laws and policy, it had said, adding that in the present case, public health and hospitals are covered by Entry 6, List II (state list) in the Constitution.
As many as six petitions against the GO of the state government are pending adjudication in the top court.

With inputs from agencies