Punjab and Haryana High Court stays Punjab govt’s NRI quota criteria change for MBBS/BDS courses
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 28
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed Punjab government’s decision of changing the criteria for admission in MBBS/BDS courses under NRI quota.
“After hearing counsel for the rival parties, we are of the opinion that a case for interim relief is made out. Accordingly, till the next date of hearing, operation of corrigendum dated August 20 and addendum dated August 22 shall remain, and the process of admission shall be continued in accordance with the schedule as per prospectus of MBBS/BDS – 2024,” the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asserted.
The Bench also fixed September 2 for further hearing the arguments. The directions came on the plea filed by Geetan Verma and other aspirants for admission in MBBS/BDS courses filed through senior advocate Amit Jhanji.
Among other things, Jhanji contended the prospectus for admission to medical courses was issued by UT Chandigarh as well as the State of Punjab through Baba Farib University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) on August 9. The last date for UT quota was August 16 and for the State of Punjab was August 15.
The Bench was told that the state changed the rules of game on August 20 after submission of forms in an illegal manner. A corrigendum was issued changing the eligibility criteria and enlarging the scope of NRI category, bringing in other degrees of relations as well within the class. Further, the schedule provided under the prospectus was also amended for NRI student and last date of admission was extended further up to August 21.
It was also stated that another notification was issued again on August 22 to create NRI quota of 15 per cent in one institute — Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute Medical Sciences, Mohali, by taking away them from the general seats quota.
Jhanji argued that the process for admission to MBBS course commenced according to the timeline as per schedule for admission under NEET UG 2024 mentioned in the prospectus issued by BFUHS. Subsequent amendments to the schedule could not have taken place.
