NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, AUG 31
The Supreme Court on Monday held that states are empowered to make special provisions for granting quota in admissions in PG courses to government doctors serving in remote areas.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra held that states have legislative competence to make special provisions for reservation.
The top court said that the Medical Council of India (MCI) regulation that barred such reservation is arbitrary and unconstitutional.
The bench said that the MCI is a statutory body and has no power to make provisions for reservations.
The judgment was pronounced on a plea by Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association and others contending that giving reservation benefits would encourage those working in government hospitals and in rural areas.
The bench also comprised justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran, M R Shah, and Aniruddha Bose.
TN CM welcomes judgement
Welcoming the judgement, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that this will encourage the doctors to work with dedication in rural pockets of the country. In his twitter handle, the Chief Minister said “It gives immense pleasure and it would encourage young doctors to dedicate their service rural pockets before pursuing their post graduate studies in medicine”.
"கிராமப்புற அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணிபுரியும் அரசு மருத்துவர்களுக்கு மருத்துவ மேற்படிப்பில், மாநிலங்கள் சிறப்பு இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கலாம்" என்ற உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தின் தீர்ப்பு மிகுந்த மகிழ்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.
இது கிராமப்புற மருத்துவர்களை மேலும் ஊக்கப்படுத்தும் விதமாக அமையும்.
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) August 31, 2020