On the matter of contradictory eligibility criteria for NRI seats in two medical colleges of Punjab University, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has reserved its verdict on NRI counselling for MBBS and BDS courses. IT has further asked the authorities at GMCH 32 to keep the proceedings in a sealed cover. This came after one of the petitioners approached the high court and mentioned the contradiction in eligibility criteria of the NRI quota at Harvansh Singh Judge Dental College and Government Medical College and Hospital. Both the institutions are affiliated with Panjab University.
Hindustan Times reports that the petitioner had demanded that first-degree relatives of NRI’s should also be considered eligible for NRI quota seats which are being offered by the institute. The court observed that there is a contradiction in the eligibility criteria as mentioned in the prospectus by both the colleges for the admission to MBBS and BDS courses under the NRI quota.
While Harvansh Singh Judge Dental College, expanding the scope of the definition of NRI candidate, also availed the seats under NRI quota for those candidates who have first-degree NRI blood relatives like uncles and aunts, GMCH on the other hand excluded the first-degree blood relatives and limited the criterion for candidates who have themselves stayed in a foreign country for a certain period of time or have their parents or grandparents currently residing in other Nations.
Both of these institutions which have reportedly laid down contradictory eligibility criteria for the NRI quota, come under the affiliation of Panjab University and hence there cannot be two different sets of rules for admission under the same quota, the petitioner submitted. The counsel for the petitioner also stated that the petitioner has completed her study in Chandigarh but her paternal uncle is currently residing in the United States of America hence she is entitled to secure admission under the NRI quota as mentioned in the prospectus of Harvansh Singh Judge Dental College.
According to the Tribune, after considering the submission, the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh instructed GMCH-32 to keep the proceedings of the counseling in a sealed cover and reserved its verdict. The court has also instructed the Chandigarh administration to deliver their response in the matter. “We notice from the application form that the petitioner originally applied in the general category. At this stage, we are not inclined to accept this prayer. However, it is directed that the proceedings of the counseling for the NRI seats be kept in a sealed cover,” the Bench added. The college has 150 MBBS seats out of which 115 comes under the UT quota and among the rest of the seats 23 are enlisted under all India quota, 3 under Central pool, and only 9 seats are kept under the NRI quota.( MD )
