PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday refused to stay 41 per cent reservation quota granted by the State government for admission to Post-Graduate courses in the Goa Medical College (GMC), Bambolim, for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities. In view of this, the admission process will go on as announced earlier with 2 per cent seats reserved for SC, 12 per cent seats for ST and 27 per cent seats reserved for OBC communities.
This is the first time that reservation quota will be granted to SC, ST and OBC students in Post-Graduate courses at GMC, informed Advocate General Devidas Pangam.
In May this year, the State government by a notification reserved 41 per cent quota seats for OBC, ST and SC students for Post-Graduate courses in the GMC. Petitioners Mohnish Sardessai and others had challenged the government decision dated May 5, 2023, providing 41 per cent reservation of seats to SC, ST and OBC communities at the PG level in the GMC.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, Adv Dattaprasad Lawande submitted that the impugned decision dated May 5, 2023, could only be effected if the Public Health Department approves it.
He pointed out that the Social Welfare Department had also not prepared any roster referred to in the impugned decision and the impugned decision cannot be effected without compliance with these prerequisites mentioned in the impugned order.
Adv Lawande also brought to the notice of the Court that the it was only after the commencement of the admission process on July 25, the government vide notification dated August 8, 2023, amended the rules to provide for reservations. This is a clear case where the rules of the game have been changed after the commencement of the admission process, he said and prayed for interim relief.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the court that the petitioners are aware that PG course admissions have to be completed within the timeline indicated by the MCI and other authorities and that deciding whether to provide for reservations at the PG courses is a policy decision where judicial review must be minimum.
The Court later posted the matter for final hearing on September 4.
