PG medical seats: HC directs Mah Govt to file affidavit

Mumbai, May 12 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on a petition filed by a non-governmental organisation regarding the postgraduate medical seats, today directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit by May 20.

The High Court has also issued a notice to the Medical Council of India (MCI) in this regard.

A division bench comprising Justices Dhananjay Chandrachud and K U Chandiwal questioned the wisdom behind a circular issued by the Director Medical Education and Research halting admission to 242 postgraduate seats.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by People's Health Organisation (PHO) for increasing the number of medical Postgraduate seats in the state.

The state told the court that the impugned circular was issued to stop second round of admissions to postgraduate courses since there were some pending cases in the High Court which were filed by doctors who possessed degrees which were not recognised by the MCI. The petitioners are claiming Rs 50 lakh compensation each from the state, the state told the court.

To this, the division bench wanted to know whether even the first round of admissions would be halted if someone filed a plea for compensation of Rs one crore.

The state expressed willingness to increase 242 seats that are recognised by the Maharashtra Medical council but still in process of being recognised by the MCI. However, the state wanted the students to furnish an undertaking that they are taking admission fully aware that the degrees are recognised only in the state and would not demand any compensation from the state on this count.

Following this, the court asked the state to file an affidavit in this regard by May 20.

Meanwhile, the High Court issued a notice to the MCI, as they were un-represented today despite being served with a notice earlier.

PHO secretary Dr I S Gilada has filed the PIL which states that there has been a steady decline in the number of postgraduate seats in the state. The number has come down to 411 seats now from the 1906 seats in 2001, the petition said.

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