No reservation to admissions in PG courses in AIIMS : SC

New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court today accepted the decision of Union Health Ministry against providing reservation in admissions to post graduate medical science courses in AIIMS during the current academic year 2006-2007.

A bench comprising Mr. Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr Justice D K Jain accepted the Centre's decision after Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam told the bench that no seats were available from the All-India quota for SC-ST category students during the current academic session.

The Union Government, however, assured the court that the reservation policy will be in place from the next academic year.

The apex court, in its order dated April 28, had directed the centre to keep aside 10 per cent seats in each subject for SC-ST students. However, the government did not comply with the order as all the seats from All-India quota had already been alloted on the basis of merit.

The states, however, had been left free to implement the reservation policy in admissions to the state quota according to their respective reservation policy.

The court was informed that since the first counselling session was over, no seats were left to be given to the SC-ST category students.

The Centre had held a meeting with the state representatives on April 27 to chalk out a strategy for the implementation of the reservation policy in admissions.

The recent utterances of Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh on implementing the reservation policy in admissions had led to a nationwide agitation by the students who are opposed to such reservations.

Mr Singh had announced 27 per cent reservation for OBC students while 22.5 per cent reservation was entitled for SC-ST candidates, leaving only 50 per cent seats for general category students.

UNI AKS SC SY HS1557