CJI Surya Kant Exposes Attempt to Influence Court in PG Medical Quota Case
In a significant development at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has publicly disclosed an attempt to pressure him into recusing from a case involving two petitioners seeking admission to a postgraduate medical course under a minority quota. The CJI revealed that one of the petitioners, a brother-sister duo, contacted his brother to express disappointment over an adverse court order, a move suspected to be a ploy to force his recusal.
Details of the Court Hearing and CJI's Response
During the resumed hearing of the petition, CJI Kant stated that in his 23-year career as a constitutional court judge, he has encountered similar tactics used by individuals to compel judges to step away from cases. When the petitioners' counsel claimed unawareness of this unethical act by their clients, the CJI firmly asserted that he would not recuse from the case. He issued a stern warning, indicating that such attempts would be dealt with severely under the Contempt of Court Act. The bench, led by the CJI, has adjourned the hearing to May 4 for further proceedings.
Background of the Petitioners and the Controversy
The petitioners are a brother and sister doctor duo from a forward caste family residing in an affluent village in Haryana. They initially appeared in the NEET-PG examination as general category students. After clearing the exam, they sought to pursue their PG medical courses at a medical institute in Uttar Pradesh, which claims to be a minority institution belonging to the Buddhist community. This claim has sparked controversy and is currently under investigation. The duo obtained minority certificates from the Hisar Sub-Divisional Officer last year following their conversion to Buddhism.
Previous Court Orders and Ongoing Inquiry
On January 28, the Supreme Court bench directed the Chief Secretary of Haryana to investigate the process and procedure adopted by the SDO in issuing the minority certificates to the brother-sister duo. The court had previously dismissed their plea for admission to the institution, highlighting concerns over the legitimacy of their conversion and the minority status claim. This case underscores ongoing debates about quota systems and ethical practices in medical admissions in India.
