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DNA Micro Edit: Why should med students bear the brunt of politicos?

The Medical education department issued an order on April 27 introducing the new 67.5 per cent quota.

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The Bombay High Court’s stay on the sudden introduction of 67.5 per cent quota for students domiciled in Maharashtra for post graduate courses in private and deemed medical colleges has again brought into focus how students tend to become casualties of decisions that seem to be motivated by political considerations. 

Previous admission seasons have been marred by controversies over national level tests versus state level tests, and this year, the issue is one of sons-of-the-soil versus outsiders. Time and again, medical aspirants are the ones who are forced to seek help from courts to set things right.

The Medical education department issued an order on April 27 introducing the new 67.5 per cent quota. While the objective is to ensure a higher number of medical practitioners to be domiciled in the state, to bolster the healthcare system in Maharashtra, the method of execution is flawed.

The High Court has opined that the state cannot change the rules of the game when it is ongoing. Over 8,500 applicants from across India have applied for 3,300-odd seats this year. The new domicile rule was introduced just two days before the release of the first merit list, making 2,000 candidates ineligible abruptly.

It is unlikely that the government was not aware of the consequences. Either the Law and Judiciary department wasn’t consulted or its advice was ignored. The rules could have been modified before applications were invited.

Students cannot become the casualties of such snap decisions. It would have been prudent to introduce such a move from the next admission season with fair warning given well in advance to students.

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