SATYABRATA SAHOO Vs STATE OF ORISSA .
Bench: K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN,DIPAK MISRA
Case number: C.A. No.-005705-005706 / 2012
Diary number: 16037 / 2012
Advocates: Vs
ANAGHA S. DESAI
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REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5705-5706 OF 2012 [Arising out of SLP (Civil) Nos. 16201-16202 of 2012]
Satyaprata Sahoo & Ors. . Appellants
Versus
State of Orissa & Ors. . Respondents
J U D G M E N T
K. S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. The appellants, who have appeared in the Entrance
Examination for Post-Graduate (Medical) Selection 2012, Odisha are
challenging the validity of Clause 11.2 of the Prospectus for
selection of candidates for Post-Graduate (Medical) Courses in the
Government Medical Colleges of Odisha for the Academic Year,
2012, as violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
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3. The appellants appeared in the entrance examination as 租
irect candidates(Open Category) and have qualified purely on merit
for admission to Post Graduate (Medical) Courses 2012 in the
Government Medical Colleges in Odisha. The Prospectus issued for
Post-Graduate (Medical) Selection, 2012, Odisha deals with the
availability of the seats both in the category of direct as well as in-
service. Clause 4 of the Prospectus gives the category-wise details
of the seats for P.G. (Medical) Courses in three Government Medical
Colleges in Odisha for the Academic Year 2012. For the category
MD/MS Course, in-service category, 87 seats are available and for
direct category, 86 seats are available, totaling 173 seats.
Appellants, who fall under the category of direct candidates, as
already indicated, are aggrieved by Clause 11.2 of the Prospectus
which stipulates an additional weightage for candidates who are in
employment of Government of Odisha/Government of Odisha
undertaking / Government of India Public Undertaking located in
Odisha and had worked in Rural/Tribal/Backward areas while
applying through the category of direct candidates. Additional
weightage of 10% of marks secured in the P.G. Entrance
Examination per year of completion of service in --
Rural/Tribal/Backward areas, subject to the maximum of 30% of
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marks secured in the entrance examination, in service to be given to
those candidates who apply through direct category.
4. Appellants submit that the above clause is wholly arbitrary,
discriminatory and goes contrary to the ratio laid down by this
Court in State of M.P. & Ors. V. Gopal D. Tirthani & Ors. (2003)
7 SCC 83 and Dr. Snehelata Patnaik & Ors. V. State of Orissa
& Ors. (1992) 2 SCC 26. Appellants have also prayed for quashing
the Medical Council of India (in short 閃CI Notification No. 51210 of
17.11.2009 providing weightage marks to in-service candidates
applying through the direct category, which according to the
appellants, is a clear encroachment and appropriation of seats
earmarked for the direct category candidates which has to be filled
up purely on merit, subject to rule of reservation.
Appellantschallenge was repelled by the learned single Judge of the
Orissa High Court as well as the Division Bench. Hence, these
appeals.
5. Shri Shyam Diwan, learned senior counsel appearing for the
appellants submits that providing additional weightage marks to in-
service candidates who had rendered service in -
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Rural/Tribal/Backward areas while considering their applications
for admission through the direct candidate category amounts to
making an artificial differentiation between a homogenous class i.e.
direct candidates and in-service candidates. Learned senior counsel
pointed out that on account of additional weightage benefit given to
the doctors who have rendered less than five years of service in
Rural/Tribal/Backward areas both in Government of Odisha or
Public Sector Undertakings owned by the State Government, will be
an advantageous position and that would amount to drawing an
artificial differentiation between a homogeneous class i.e. direct
candidates and in-service candidates and also within the in-service
candidates, which action would be hit by Article 14 of the
Constitution of India.
6. Learned senior counsel also pointed out that the same further
amounts to providing horizontal reservation within the seats meant
for in-service candidates. Learned senior counsel pointed out that
the admission through direct candidates route be made purely on
merit on the basis of the common entrance examination and not on
the basis of the additional weightage granted to a few doctors who --
had the advantage of serving in Rural/Tribal/Backward areas while
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in employment in Government of Orissa, Public Sector Undertakings
owned by the State Government.
7. Mrs. Indu Malhotra, learned senior counsel, also submitted
that such candidates can always come through the in-service
category, a normal route for admission to PG (Medical) Course.
Learned senior counsel pointed out that additional weightage is
always available to them when they come through the in-service
category route, however, the same cannot be extended to them while
applying for admission as direct category candidates, lest they may
make an inroad into the direct category, which is arbitrary,
discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of
India.
8. Shri Krishnan Venugopal, learned senior counsel contesting on
behalf of the respondents, on the other hand, submitted that there
is no illegality in Clause 11.2 of the Prospectus which gives
additional weightage to in-service candidates who fall under the
direct candidates route, as well as third proviso added after clause
9(2)(d) of the Post Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) --
Regulations 2000 as amended by Post Graduate Medical Education
(Amendment) Regulation 2009 (Part II) vide Notification dated
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17.11.2009. Learned senior counsel pointed out that classification
of candidates as per Clause 6 and sub-clauses providing weightage
marks to such in-service candidates as per Clause 11.2 of the
Prospectus, cannot be termed as discrimination between direct and
in-service candidates and amongst the in-service candidates.
Learned senior counsel also pointed out that the weightage marks
given to in-service candidates who have rendered service in
Rural/Tribal/Backward areas and qualified in the entrance
examination, cannot be termed as 塗 orizontal reservationas it is
only the weightage of marks given for rendering service to the people
in Rural/Tribal/Backward areas, in view of the law laid down by
this Court in Gopal D. Tirthani (supra).
9. Shri Kirti R. Mishra, learned senior counsel appearing on
behalf of the 4th respondent, submitted that the prospectus has
been issued strictly in accordance with the Notification No. 51210
dated 17.11.2009 issued by the Medical Council of India, whereby
additional weightage marks given as an incentive for determining --
the merit in the entrance examination passed for P.G. admission.
Learned senior counsel submitted that the weightage in marks is
given as an incentive at the rate of 10% of the marks obtained up to
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maximum of 30% of the marks obtained for each year of service
rendered in remote or difficult areas. It was also pointed out that
the additional benefit is an incentive only and by awarding such an
incentive, there is no violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of
India.
10. Learned counsel appearing for the MCI referred to the counter
affidavit filed on its behalf and submitted that the third proviso to
Regulation 9(2)(d) of the Post Graduation Regulation, 2000 (as
amended) does not provide for or contemplate any separate channel
of entry for in service candidates in admission to P.G. Degree
Courses like that provided for P.G. Diploma Courses. The proviso
only provides that a weightage may be given at the rate of 10% of
the marks obtained for each year in service in remote or difficult
areas upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in the
entrance examination and has secured minimum required --
percentage of marks for government service rendered in
remote/difficult areas.
We heard counsels on either side at length.
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11. Medical Council of India, in exercise of its powers conferred by
Section 33 read with Section 20 of the Indian Medical Council Act,
1956, framed the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations,
2000. Clause 9 of the Regulations 2000 deals with the selection of
the postgraduate students. Clause 9(1) was substituted in terms of
Notification published in the Gazette of India on 20.10.2008 and the
same now reads as follows:
“9(1)(a) Students for Post Graduate medical courses shall be selected strictly on the basis of their Inter-se Academic Merit.
(b) 50% of the seats in Post Graduate Diploma Courses shall be reserved for Medical Officers in the Government service, who have served at least three years in remote and difficult areas. After acquiring the PG Diploma, the Medical Officers shall serve for two more years in remote and/or difficult areas.”
12. Clauses 9(1)(a) and 9(1)(b) when read together would indicate
that 50% seats are earmarked for direct category candidates and --
50% seats are earmarked for in service category. Clause 9(1)(a)
clearly states that students for post graduate medical courses shall
be selected strictly on the basis of their inter-se academic merit and
Rule 9(1)(b) states that 50% of the seats stand reserved for in
service candidates who have at least three years service in remote
and difficult areas.
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13. The methodology to be adopted for determining academic merit
is provided in Clause 9(2), which is relevant for our purpose and
hence extracted hereunder:
“9(2) For determining the 羨 cademic Merit the University/Institution may adopt the following methodology:-
a On the basis of merit as determined by a 祖 ompetitive testconducted by the state government or by the competent authority appointed by the state government or by the university/group of universities in the same state; or
a On the basis of merit as determined by a centralized competitive test held at the national level; or
a On the basis of the individual cumulative performance at the first, second and third MBBS examinations provided admissions are University wise. Or
a Combination of (a) and (c)
Provided that wherever 薦 ntrance Testfor postgraduates admission is held by a state government or a university or any other authorized examining body, the minimum percentage of marks for eligibility for admission to postgraduate medical course shall be 50 percent for general category candidates and 40 percent for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
Provided further that in Non-Governmental institutions fifty percent of the total seats shall be filled
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by the competent authority notified by the State Government and the remaining fifty percent by the management(s) of the institution on the basis of Inter-se Academic Merit.”
14. However, the following proviso was added after clause 9(2)(d) in
terms of Gazette Notification published on 17.11.2009 and the same
reads as follows:
“Further provided that in determining the merit and the entrance test for postgraduate admission weightage in the marks may be given as an incentive at the rate of 10% of the marks obtained for each year in service in remote or difficult areas upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained.”
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15. Above Clause 9, therefore, stipulates the methodology to be
adopted for determining the inter-se academic merit of candidates
who fall under direct category and of those candidates who
ultimately fall under 50% seats reserved for in-service candidates.
Clause 9(1)(a) clearly stipulates that students for postgraduate
medical courses shall be selected strictly on the basis of “inter-se
academic merit The main controversy in this case is whether the
candidates from direct admission category has to be selected strictly
on the basis of their inter-se academic merit or whether it is legal to
dilute the merit to the extent as indicated in the third Proviso to
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Clause 9(2)(d). Candidates who fall in the direct candidates category,
whether they are fresh from the college or serving elsewhere, either
on Government service or under public-sector undertakings,
working in rural/Tribal area or otherwise or doctors who are serving
in private hospitals or nursing homes etc. situate in remote or
difficult area, all fall in that direct category and all of them have to
take a common entrance examination and admission criteria is only
comparative merit. When the comparative merit is the only criteria
in the open category, the question is whether a weightage can be
given exclusively to those candidates who are in -service of State of
Odisha/Government of Odisha undertaking, whether
contractual/temporary/ad-hoc/regular on the ground that they had
worked in rural/tribal/backward areas. It may be noted that 50%
seats have already been earmarked for such category of candidates
which they can always claim depending upon the inter-se merit after
complying with other eligibility criteria. Question is whether those
in-service candidates can appropriate seats from the open category
where seats are only few.
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16. Clause 11.2 in the Prospectus issued by the P.G. (Medical)
Selection Committee 2012, giving additional weightage to those in-
service candidates, reads as follows:
“11.2 Those in-service candidates who have qualified in the Entrance Examination and worked in Rural/Tribal/Backward areas shall be awarded an additional weightage of 10% of the marks secured in the P.G. Entrance Examination per year of completion service (in Rural/Tribal/Backward areas), subject to maximum of 30% of marks secured in entrance examination, vide MCI Notification No.51210/ dt.17.11.2009 (In Form No.Appendix-III(A)).”
Candidates fall under the Direct Category is provided under
Clause 6 of the Prospectus, which reads as follows:
“6. CATEGORY OF CANDIDATES:
6.1. A Direct Candidate is one who at the time of application:
6.1.1 Is son/daughter/spouse of a person who has served in Defence Service for minimum of 5 years by 31st December, 2011.
6.1.2 Is either unemployed or in the employment of Government of Odisha, but not completed five years of service which includes all categories of employment like contractual/temporary/ad-hoc/regular by 31st December, 2011
6.1.3 in the employment of Govt. of Orissa Public Sector Undertaking/Govt. of India Public Sector Undertaking located in Odisha. The employer has to sponsor the candidates for entire period & must submit the sponsorship certificate as in Appendix III.”
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Clause 6.2 deals with In-service candidate which reads as
follows:
“6.2 An In-service candidate is one who at the time of application:
6.2.1 Is in the employment of Government of Odisha and has completed a length of 5 years of service which includes all categories of employment like contractual/temporary/ ad-hoc/ regular by 31st December, 2011, excluding at-a-stretch leave of any kind, of 30 days or more. However, the maternity leave is exempted from this exclusion and shall be counted towards the length of five years of service.
Note: In-service and Direct candidates in employment under Government of Odisha at the time of application - are advised to submit their applications along with the required documents directly to the Convenor, P.G. (Medical) Selection Committee 2012, under intimation to their Employer. Copy of such intimation is to be attached.”
17. Clauses 6.1, 6.2 and 11.2, quoted above, clearly recognize two
categories of candidates i.e. 電 irectand 妬 n-service 泥 irectis a very
wide category (open category) where students for P.G. Medical
Courses shall be selected strictly on the basis of inter-se academic
merit, as determined by a competitive test and in-service is a
restricted category of candidates who are in service of the State
Government/State owned undertakings. The details of the
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availability of seats are provided in Clause 4 of the prospectus
which is as follows:
“Category-wise Distribution of Seats
Category MD/MS Course
Unreserved Total
ST(12%) SC(8%) PH(3%) Defence(3%) Greencard (5%)
In-service 62 10 7 3 0 5 87 Direct 59 11 7 2 3 4 86 Total 121 21 14 5 3 9 173
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18. Seats in the direct category are also reserved for members of
SC/ST communities and also to those SC/ST candidates migrated
from their state of origin subject to certain conditions. Clause 6.4
reserves seats for children or spouse of service/Ex-service personnel
(Defence). Clause 6.5 states that seats are reserved for physically
handicapped candidates also subject to rules governing them. In
other words, several reserved candidates have also to be
accommodated in the 50% Open Category. 50% seats ear marked
for the in-service candidates is kept intact, for which in-service
candidates can always aspire and if they satisfy the condition of
rural/Tribal service, they will definitely get weightage.
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19. Now by virtue of third proviso to Clause 9(2)(d) and clause 11.2
of the Prospectus candidates who fall under the in-service category
are given a weightage through which they can make an in-road into
the direct candidates category while retaining their rights to get
admission for P.G. Course through in-service category. Appellants
lament that already 66% reservation is there in the State for P.G.
Admissions, including all reservations and only 34% seats are
available for direct unreserved category on merit and if third --
proviso to Clause 9(2)(d) of the M.C.I. Regulation and Clause 11.2 of
the Prospectus are given effect to then those seats would be
occupied by the in-service candidates large in number and
candidates who comes strictly on the basis of merit through the
competitive examination will have to stand out.
20. This Court in Gopal D. Tirthani (supra) upheld the allocation
of 20% seats for in-service candidates and held that weightage can be
given to in-service candidates for their having rendered specified
number of years of service in rural/tribal areas which is not hit by
Article 14 of the Constitution of India. This Court held that
allocation of 20% of seats in Post Graduation in the University of
Madhya Pradesh for in-service candidate is not a reservation, it is a
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separate and exclusive channel of entry or source of admission,
validity thereof cannot be determined on the constitutional
principles applicable to communal reservations. Having so said, the
Court held as follows:
“33. …Firstly, it is a case of post-graduation within the State and not an All-India quota. Secondly, it is not a case of reservation, but one of only assigning weightage for service rendered in rural/tribal areas. Thirdly, on the view of the law we have taken hereinabove, the assigning of weightage for service -
rendered in rural/tribal area does not at all affect in any manner the candidates in open category. ……..”
21. Therefore, in Tirthani case, it has been categorically held that
it is permissible to assign a reasonable weightage to services
rendered in rural/tribal areas by the in-service candidates for the
purpose of determining inter se merit within the class of in-service
candidates who have qualified in the pre-PG test by securing the
minimum qualifying marks as prescribed by the Medical Council of
India. Regulation 9 framed by the Medical Council of India was also
noticed by this Court so also the existence of two categories: (1)
direct category (open category) candidates and (2) in-service category
candidates. Weightage given for rendering service in rural/tribal
areas, so far as in-service candidates, was upheld noticing that the
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assigning of weightage for service rendered in rural/tribal areas
would not affect in any manner the candidates in open category.
22. We may, in this connection, refer to few earlier judgments in
the matter of giving weightage to in-service candidates although
those decisions were also considered in Tirthani case. In State of
-U.P. and Others. v. Pradip Tandon and Others. (1975) 1 SCC
267, reservation in favour of people in 塗 ill areasand Uttarakhand
was held to be constitutionally valid as they were socially and
educationally backward classes of citizens. Reservation in favour of
途 ural areaswas found difficult to accept as it was sought to be
justified on the test of poverty as the determining factor of social
backwardness. This Court held that rural element did not make a
class by itself because it could not be accepted that the rural people
were necessarily poor or socially and educationally backward just as
the urban people were not necessarily rich. What was being dealt
with in Pradip Tandon case was a reservation and not a weightage.
Later in Dinesh Kumar (Dr.) (II) v. Motilal Nehru Medical College
(1986) 3 SCC 727, the two-Judges Bench examined a scheme of
examination for admission to postgraduate courses suggested by the
Government of India stipulating a weightage equivalent to 15 per
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cent of the total marks obtained by a student at the All-India
Entrance Examination, being given if he had put in a minimum of 3
years of rural service. In that case, of course, this Court observed
that it was eminently desirable that some incentive should be given
to the doctors to go to the rural -areas because there was
concentration of doctors in the urban areas and the rural areas
appeared to be neglected. The observation made in Dinesh Kumar
case was considered by three-Judges Bench of this Court in Dr.
Snehelata Patnaik (supra) and this Court opined that the
authorities might well consider giving weightage upto maximum of 5
per cent of marks in favour of in-service candidates who had done
rural service for five years or more, the determination of which have
to be made by the authorities.
23. We have referred to the above mentioned judgments only to
indicate the fact that this Court in various judgments has
acknowledged the fact that weightage could be given for doctors who
have rendered service in rural/tribal areas but that weightage is
available only in in-service category, to which 50% seats for PG
admission has already been earmarked. The question is whether,
on the strength of that weightage, can they encroach upon the open
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category, i.e direct admission category. We are of the view that such
encroachment or inroad or appropriation of seats earmarked for
open category candidates (direct admission category) would --
definitely affect the candidates who compete strictly on the basis of
the merit.
24. The purpose and object for giving weightage to in-service
candidates who have rendered rural/tribal service is laudable and
their interest has been taken care of by the Medical Council of India
as well as the prospectus issued for admission to the various
medical colleges in State of Odisha but they have to come through
the proper channel i.e. the channel exclusively earmarked for in-
service candidates and not through the channel earmarked for
candidates in the open category. The in-service candidates are also
free to compete through the open category just like any other who
fall under that category. Further, it is also relevant to note those
who get admission in post graduate courses through the open
category have to execute a bond stating that they would serve
rural/tribal areas after completion of their post-graduation. In
fact, weightage is given to those candidates who have rendered
service in rural/tribal areas when they compete for admission to PG
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(Medical) Courses in in-service category for whom 50% seats are
earmarked.
25. We also find another fallacy in Clause 11.2 read with Clause
6.2.1 of the prospectus. Clause 6.2.1 of the prospectus says in-
service candidate is one who at the time of application is in the
employment in Government of Odisha and has completed a length
of 5 years of service which include all categories of employment like
contractual/temporary/ad-hoc/regular by 31st December 2011.
Therefore, a doctor who is doing rural service on contract or on
temporary basis or on ad hoc basis by 31st December 2011 will also
get the benefit. At the same time, the candidates who pass out
MBBS either in regular service or in contractual / temporary/ ad
hoc in a private hospital even though serving in a remote/tribal
areas would not get that benefit even though those doctors are also
rendering the same service. Every doctor who goes out of medical
college after MBBS would not get an opportunity to serve in a rural/
tribal area by way of contractual/temporary/ad-hoc or regular
service offered by the State of Odisha or a public sector. Few may
fall in that category for various reasons and they get an advantage
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and those who get that advantage of course can, claim weightage
when they are being considered in the in-service category.
26. We notice that the seats earmarked for the open category by
way of merit are few in number and encroachment by the in-service
candidates into that open category would violate clause 9(1)(a) of the
MCI regulations, which says students for PG medical courses shall
be selected strictly on the basis of the inter se academic merit i.e. on
the basis of the merit determined by the competent test. Direct
category or open category is a homogeneous class which consists of
all categories of candidates who are fresh from college, who have
rendered service after MBBS in Government or private hospitals in
remote and difficult areas like hilly areas, tribal and rural areas and
so on. All of them have to complete on merit being in the direct
candidate category, subject to rules of reservation and eligibility.
But there can be no encroachment from one category to another.
Candidates of in-service category cannot encroach upon the open
category, so also vice-versa.
27. We find, except State of Odisha and, to some extent, State of
Tamil Nadu, none of the other States in India, has incorporated
such a clause in any of their prospectus for admission to the
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graduate medical courses and students who fall under the open --
category in those States are, therefore, not affected by such
weightage.
28. Medical Council of India in the counter affidavit raised some
objections for giving admissions beyond the sanctioned admission
capacity. Reference was made to Section 10A of the MCI Act which
provides that admissions can be made by Medical Colleges only
within sanctioned capacity for which permission under Section
10A/recognition under Section 11(2) has been granted. This Court
in State of Punjab and Others v. Renuka Singla and Others
(1994) 1 SCC 175 held that the High Court or the Supreme Court
cannot be generous or liberal in issuing such directions which in
substance amount to directing the authorities concerned to violate
their own statutory rules and regulations, in respect of admissions
of students. Technical education, including medical education,
requires infrastructure to cope with the requirement of giving proper
education to the students, who are admitted. Taking into
consideration, the infrastructure, equipment, staff, the limit of the
number of admissions is fixed by the Medical council of India.
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29. Further, in Medical Council of India v. State of Karnataka
(1998) 6 SCC 131, this Court held the number of students admitted
cannot be over and above that fixed by the Medical Council as per
the Regulations and that seats in medical colleges cannot be
increased indiscriminately without regard to proper infrastructure
as per the Regulations of the Medical Council.
30. In Mriduldhar (Minor) and another v. Union of Indiaand
Others (2005) 2 SCC 65, this Court held as follows:
“Having regard to the professional courses into consideration, it deserves to be emphasized that all concerned including Governments, State and Central both, MCI/DCI, colleges, new or old, students, Boards, universities, examining authorities etc. are required to strictly adhere to time schedule wherever provided for; there should not be mid-stream admission; admission should not be in excess of sanctioned intake capacity or in excess of quota of any one, whether Stare or Management. The carrying forward of any unfilled seats of one academic year to next academic year is also not permissible.”
31. It is unnecessary to multiply the judgment rendered by this
Court, on this point, the question is how to mould the reliefs,
especially when we cannot, in the facts and circumstance of the --
case, direct the State of Odisha and the Medical Council of India to
increase the seats so as to accommodate the appellants. Seats
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which are legitimately due to the appellants are being occupied by
the candidates from in-service category.
32. Contention was raised by learned counsel, appearing for some
of the in-service candidates who got admission that they shall not be
displaced since they have already left their jobs from the State
Government service or the State owned undertakings after having
got admission for P.G. (Medical) Course. But, going by the stand
taken by MCI and on the basis of the decided cases of this Court, it
would not be possible to increase the seats, however, candidates
who are meritorious should get admission.
33. Contention was raised that all the affected candidates were not
made parties to the writ petition and, therefore, without hearing
them, no orders shall be passed against them thereby depriving
them of their seats. Learned counsel for the appellants has stated
that they had approached the High Court of Orissa on 13.01.2012
i.e soon after the prospectus was issued and the declaration of the
provisional merit list took place on 10.04.2012 subsequent to the --
filing of the writ petition. Learned Single Judge rendered the
judgment before the results were declared on 23.03.2012 and the
Division Bench dismissed the appeal on 09.04.2012. The first
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counseling was conducted between 21.04.2012 to 23.04.2012.
Since the appellants had approached the court on 13.01.2012 and
the matter was sub judice before a court of law and this proceeding
is only a continuation of the writ petition filed by them on
13.01.2012, we are, of the view, that the admissions given to the in-
service candidates necessarily would be subject to the outcome of
the petitions pending before the court of law. Therefore, in our view,
non-impleadment of few of those candidates in these proceedings
would not affect the legitimate claim raised by the appellants.
34. Learned counsel appearing for the contesting respondents
submitted that they are undergoing studies from May 2012 onwards
and, at this distance of time, if they are displaced, that will cause
serious injustice to them since they have already left the
government service/public sector undertakings for joining the post
graduate course. In view of the stand taken by the Medical Council
-of India that seats for post-graduate courses cannot be increased,
we are inclined to give a direction to the State of Odisha or their
undertakings to take back the in-service candidates into their
service and permit them to serve in the rural/tribal areas so that
they can compete through the category of in-service candidates in
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the 50% seats earmarked for them for admission to the post-
graduate course.
35. We are, therefore, inclined to allow this appeal and set aside
the judgment of the Division Bench as well as learned Single Judge
by quashing the proviso to clause 9(2)(d) of the MCI regulations to
the extend indicated above as well as clause 11.2 of the prospectus
issued for admission to the Post Graduate Medical Examination
2012 in the State of Odisha. The State of Odisha, the Medical
Council of India and respondents 1 to 4 are directed to take urgent
steps to re-arrange the merit list and to fill up the seats of the direct
category, excluding in-service candidates who got admission in the
open category on the strength of weightage, within a period of one
week from today and give admission to the open category candidates
strictly on the basis of merit.
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36. Appeals are allowed and the judgments of the High Court are
set aside accordingly.
………………..J (K.S. Radhakrishnan)
………………..J.
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(Dipak Misra) New Delhi, August 3, 2012