A notice has been sent by the Telangana High Court to the state government and Kaloji Narayanarao University of Health Sciences on a petition that challenges the decision to reserve 100% seats in MBBS & BDS admissions under ‘Competent Authority Quota’ for locals in 36 state colleges established after June 02, 2014.
Earlier, 15 percent of the seats were unreserved and anyone including candidates from Andhra Pradesh could compete from them.
The division bench of acting Chief Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao last week heard a petition filed by an NEET aspirant,and her father in the matter.
The plea challenges the G.O.Ms No 72 of 2023 that the State of Telangana issued and subsequently the Prospectus/ Notification for MBBS and BDS courses, issued by Kaloji Narayana Rao University for Health and Science for the academic year 2023-2024, and argues that the same is against the object and intent of Article 371 D.
The petition states that the decision is highly-illegal, arbitrary, irregular, irrational and is gross violation to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 apart from being violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950.
The petiioner was represented by Advocate P. Thirumala Rao, who submitted that the petitioner, a aspires to study medicine in Telangana and had registered for the NEET MBBS & BDS for the academic year 2023-2024.
The petition mentions that the exams were conducted in May 2023 and results were declared in June 2023.
The petitioner cleared the exam and was waiting eagerly for counselling to being, when the Government of Telangana issued G.O.Ms No. 72 of 2023, whereby allotting 100% medical seats in the ‘Competent Authority’ Quota only to the residents of Telangana in the colleges established after June 2014 thereby debarring the candidates from Andhra.
As per the imugned government order 100% of seats are reserved under the ‘Competent Authority Quota’ in medical colleges established after 02.06.2014 solely for ‘local candidates’ of Telangana.
The oetition states that this discriminatory reservation policy not only violates Section 95 and other provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 but also infringes upon the fundamental rights and constitutional safeguards.
The exercise of such unilateral decision by the Government of Telangana is a blatant disregard for the principles of fairness, equality, and meritocracy. It effectively denies students like the Petitioner.No.1 herein an equal opportunity to pursue the chosen profession based on her hard work and academic performance,” the petition argues.
The plea explains how before the formation of the state in 2014, there were 20 medical colleges in Telangana. “Currently, Telangana has a total of 56 medical colleges for the academic year 2023-2024.
The latest amendment/s as per G.O.Ms.No.72 dated 03.07.2023 will be applicable to the 36 medical colleges (26 government and 30 private) established after the state’s formation.
Similarly, the number of MBBS seats has increased from 2,850 before 2014 to 8,340, with an addition of 5,490 seats over the past decade, 85% of which will be available for local students (OU Region Students) i.e., Telangana Students.