OBC creamy layer eats up general seats at AIIMS

Three years ago, the 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) was implemented in educational institutions across the country.

Three years ago, the 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) was implemented in educational institutions across the country.

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Three years down the lane, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is still struggling to fit in the OBC creamy layer.

Most creamy layer students get accommodated in the general category itself on merit. And for general students, it means fewer seats.

Three students in the MBBS 2009 batch, from the reserved category, claimed general category seats on merit.

“Meritorious students automatically become part of general rank, irrespective of their category,” said Dr YK Gupta, PRO at AIIMS.

“We get very bright students from reserved categories, and they even go on to become toppers. Most of them opt out of reservation,” said a senior doctor in the administration who did not wish to be named.

According to the government’s directive, general students should occupy 50 per cent of seats, 15 per cent by the schedule caste and 7.5 per cent by the schedule tribe and 27 per cent OBC.

On January 13, an MBBS aspirant’s father filed a Right to Information application, demanding names of students selected to the 2009 batch, with ranks and categories.

In its response on February 19, the AIIMS registrar put three students in “others” category. The entrance test
information bulletin mentions general, schedule caste/schedule tribe, other backward class and orthopaedic physically handicapped as the only eligible categories for admission to various courses.

On February 23, the father filed a second RTI application to the Dean's (examination) office, asking him to explain the “others” category.

In its response on March 17, the list released by the Dean's office put those three students under general category.

“Those three must have been creamy layer OBC candidates who later took admission through the general category,” said a senior official.