MBBS aspirants move HC alleging discrimination by DU

Updated on: Monday, July 04, 2011

The Delhi High Court has questioned the Delhi University (DU) about an alleged discriminatory residence criteria laid down by it for candidates seeking admission to the MBBS course.

The HC was hearing a plea by three women candidates who cleared the DU Medical-Dental Entrance Test 2011 ( DUMET) but were denied admission because they did not fulfill the prescribed conditions related to place of residence. The aspirants alleged that DU offered MBBS seats to outstation students but denied the same to local residents despite the latter passing the entrance test.

Justice M L Mehta issued a notice to the university along with the Union health ministry and the MCI who have to respond by Monday.

The petitioners alleged that no information regarding the criteria of admission was provided to them and even the bulletin of information-2011, issued by the university, did not specify that only citizens of Delhi could take admission to MBBS course with hostel facility.

"The omission of the university to prescribe residence requirements for admission to the MBBS course 2011-12 is in violation of the law laid down by the Supreme Court," said the petition.

The petitioners sought a direction to DU to consider their admission to the MBBS course in any of its affiliated colleges.

"A direction be issued to the MCI and the health ministry and the university to forthwith prescribe a uniform and non-discriminatory policy for the entrance test for MBBS course," the petition says, pointing out that the MCI framed regulations are silent on any provision with regard to allocation of seats amongst the selected candidates on the basis of residence.

The Bulletin of Informations-2011, issued by DU, did not prescribe any residence requirement for taking the test in favour of students from Delhi and candidates from other states, they informed HC.

Alleging that the Centre and MCI has allowed DU to adopt a discriminatory and non-uniform policy, the petitioners said, "The omission of the university to prescribe residence requirements for admission to the MBBS course 2011-12 is in violation of the law laid down by the Supreme Court."

 

Times of India

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