The UT administration’s rules of making it mandatory to pass Class 12 from a Chandigarh school, even for its bonafide resident, for being eligible to be considered for admission to 77 Chandigarh pool MBBS seats in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, has been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Taking up the petition filed by a city resident and an MBBS aspirant Akanksha Mehra, the vacation court headed by justice Naresh Kumar Sanghi issued notice of motion to the Chandigarh administration and GMCH-32 for filing their replies by June 23.
However, there are a total of 100 MBBS seats in GMCH. A list of eligible candidates will be displayed on GMCH website on June 21. The first counselling for all Chandigarh pool seats will be held on June 23 and second counseling will be held on July 18.
The relevant condition under challenge says, “The candidates should have passed Class 12 exam (qualifying exam) from schools/colleges recognised by the Chandigarh administration and situated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, as regular student of the said school/ college.” But this condition is waived off in respect of wards of serving defence personnel/ ex-servicemen vide letter no 19/1/3-IH (3)-2007/18322 dated September 14, 2007.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Rajiv Kataria argued that the eligibility criteria was causing great hardship to bonafide residents of Chandigarh. It was violative of Article 14 of the Indian constitution and is against the principles of reservation.
{{/usCountry}}Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Rajiv Kataria argued that the eligibility criteria was causing great hardship to bonafide residents of Chandigarh. It was violative of Article 14 of the Indian constitution and is against the principles of reservation.
{{/usCountry}}THE CASE
Since her birth, petitioner Akanksha Mehra is living in Chandigarh and has a domicile certificate of Chandigarh issued by sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). Up to Class 10 she did her schooling from Chandigarh schools (St Anne and St. Stephens). However, she did her Class 12 from Anees School, SAS Nagar.
In All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) 2014, the petitioner has been declared successful and her ranking for Punjab medical colleges is 313 and for Chandigarh seats it is 40. Since there are a total of 650 seats in Punjab and 85 in Chandigarh in General category, petitioner AIPMT ranking makes her eligible for admission in Punjab as well as Chandigarh medical colleges.