GMCH ‘reserves’ MBBS seat on home secy’s order - Hindustan Times
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GMCH ‘reserves’ MBBS seat on home secy’s order

Hindustan Times | ByVishav Bharti, Chandigarh
Jun 26, 2014 09:02 AM IST

In a clear-cut case of favouritism, the directorprincipal of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, on the orders of UT home secretary, “reserved” an MBBS seat for a “favourite candidate”.

In a clear-cut case of favouritism, the directorprincipal of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, on the orders of UT home secretary, “reserved” an MBBS seat for a “favourite candidate”.

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HT Image

According to a corrigendum issued on June 20 (just two days before the counselling) by Dr Atul Sachdev, GMCH directorprincipal, one seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) candidate in total six NRI quota seats. It was also mentioned that in case the NRI-SC seat remains vacant, it will be filled by a candidate belonging to the SC category, who is a resident of UT.

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The basis of above corrigendum is an official communiqué sent by UT home secretary Anil Kumar on June 19. “Representations have been received from some candidates requesting for applying reservation policy for the SC category for seats under the NRI quota. After careful consideration of the government policy of reservation for SC category and number of seats meant under the NRI quota, it has been decided that one seat out of six NRI seats to be filled by the SC category NRI. Further, in case, this seat remains vacant due to non-availability of SC-NRI candidate then the same will be filled by SC-UT resident candidate. Decision will apply to admission for session 2014-15 and onwards.”

Interestingly, the seat was created on June 20, after the final deadline (June 17) for submission of any application. According to experts, it is illegal. “To further compound the illegality, the letter states that if this illegal SC-NRI seat goes vacant, it will not return to NRIs, but will be given to the SC quota,” said the father of a medical aspirant, who wished not to be named.

“It is a scandalous move to steal a seat from the six NRI quota seats and transfer it to the SC quota of 12 seats,” he added.

However, none of the above was mentioned anywhere in the 2014 MBBS admission brochure which is usually considered sacrosanct and final word on any admission process.

Quite contrary to the GMCH orders, experts say it is completely wrong on part of the administration and the GMCH director. “If a reserved NRI seat (to whichever category it belongs) remains vacant, the first right on that seat will be of an NRI candidate. If a general NRI candidate fails to fill that seat, then it will go to the common pool which comprises all categories, including general, SCs, OBCs, disabled, sportspersons etc.

In such a scenario it will be filled according to the reservation roster of the common pool. And, as per the pool roster, it can go to any category,” said Dr Pyara Lal Garg, former registrar of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot.

When contacted, Dr Atul Sachdev said, “We have done this on the order of higher authorities.”

Senior advocate Gurminder Singh said, “If the SC seat in the six NRI quota seats remains unfilled, it has to come back to the NRI quota only.”

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