Maratha quota for PG medical seats: EC allows Maharashtra to issue ordinance to uphold admissions

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday allowed Maharashtra to issue an ordinance to uphold admissions of 253 PG medical and dental students from the Maratha community. The state approached EC as the poll code of conduct is in place.

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday allowed Maharashtra to issue an ordinance to uphold admissions of 253 PG medical and dental students from the Maratha community. The state approached EC as the poll code of conduct is in place.

After the EC’s approval on Thursday, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called a state cabinet meeting to approve the ordinance that would uphold the admissions granted to students under the Maratha quota.

The state moved to issue an ordinance after the Supreme Court struck down reservations for Maratha students under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) quota in PG medical and dental courses this year. The ruling cancelled admissions granted under the quota

With the EC’s nod, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has called a state cabinet meeting on Friday to approve the ordinance.

The move will also end days of stalemate between the state government and students protesting after their admissions were cancelled. On Wednesday, the government told the protesting students it has worked out a solution, and wrote to the EC to relax the model code of conduct to announce its decision.

“We have received the go-ahead from the EC, which allows the state to take a decision on the issue of postgraduate medical students,” said Shirish Mohod, the deputy chief electoral officer (CEO).

“We will issue the ordinance on Friday,” state’s medical education minister Girish Mahajan said. “According to the SC’s ruling, quotas under the SEBC Act cannot apply to admissions this year, as the quota came in to effect on November 30, 2018, much after the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) — the qualifying test for these courses — was announced,” said Mahajan, and added, “The ordinance will make the SEBC Act apply in retrospect, so all admissions can be upheld and students won’t suffer. They will get the same seats and at the same colleges.”

The state government has also asked the Supreme Court to extend the deadline for admissions, to May 31 from May 25, the date fixed by the court.