Nagpur, Oct 14
The State government stated before the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court that merit of students should be the only criteria for admission into medical course and supported decision to cancel regional quote in medical course admission.
One student Nitita Lakhotia has filed a writ petition against decision to cancel regional quote. The government filed an affidavit and made its stand clear. There is All India Quota of 15 per cent in medical admissions. State wise seats cannot be reserved in it. All states are considered to be equal and students are given admissions on the basis of their merit. As per this principle, the regional quota in state should be cancelled. It will not be proper that one student should given admission despite low marks and just because he or she stays in certain area. The doors of higher education should be open equally for all. The merit should be the only criteria for admissions, stated State government.
The government also pointed out to the court that if merit based admission process is conducted in entire state by cancelling regional quote, 96 seats in Vidarbha and 189 seats in Marathwada will increase while 285 seats in Rest of Maharashtra will decrease. The court has taken this affidavit on record. The next hearing will be held on October 16.
Claims of petitioner
The State government has amended Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Education Institutions (Regulation of Admission to the Full Time Professional Undergraduate Medical and Dental Course) Rules 2016 to cancel regional quote. A notification in this regard was issued on September 7, 2020. The petitioner students has taken objection to it. This decision is illegal, one sided and violates right of equality. This decision also benefits educational interests of students in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. This controversial decision should be cancelled and admission process should be conducted as per old rule, she has requested the court. Senior lawyer Adv Subodh Dharmadhikari and Adv Ashwin Deshpande appeared for the petitioner.