Admissions in MD/MS courses: HC issues notice to Chandigarh administration
Punjab and Haryana High Court issues notice to Chandigarh Administration over the change in MD/MS admission criteria at GMCH-32
A petition has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by MBBS graduates of Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, Sector 32 (GMCH-32), challenging a recent order by the Chandigarh Administration that changed the admission criteria for MD/MS courses at the institute.
The petitioners argue that the new criteria will severely impact the possibility of IP Pool candidates getting the specialty/discipline of their choice.
Under the old criteria, IP Pool candidates could opt for a specialty/discipline/branch of their choice, either in the UT Pool or in the IP Pool, on the basis of their merit position.
However, the new criteria state that IP Pool candidates must first be adjusted against the seats of their preferred branch available in the IP Pool.
If the preferred branch is not available in IP Pool, then they will be considered for the branch of their preferred choice under UT Pool, subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria of UT Pool.
The petitioners argue that this change is arbitrary and will make it more difficult for IP Pool candidates to get their preferred specialty/discipline.
They also point out that the administration had sought the opinion of the PG/MD/MS Committee of GMCH Institute before making this change, and the committee had recommended that the old criteria be continued.
The Bench of Justice Arun Palli and Justice Jagmohan Bansal issued a notice to the UT administration and ordered them to list the matter for August 16.
The case is significant because it could have implications for the admission of MBBS graduates to MD/MS courses at other government medical colleges in India.
