The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea challenging the surrender of 152 vacant super speciality medical seats in Tamil Nadu to the all India quota. The petitioner has sought a direction to restrain authorities from surrendering these seats until the completion of the second round of all India quota counselling process.
Petitioner's Demand
The plea, filed by an individual, argues that the premature surrender of these seats would deprive eligible candidates of an opportunity to secure admission through the state quota. The petitioner contends that the seats should remain available for Tamil Nadu candidates until the entire counselling process is concluded.
Background of the Case
The issue pertains to 152 vacant super speciality medical seats in various government and private medical colleges across Tamil Nadu. These seats were originally part of the state quota but were to be surrendered to the all India quota as per existing regulations. The petitioner claims that such a move would be premature and against the interests of local students.
Legal Proceedings
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan took note of the submissions and issued notice to the concerned authorities. The court is expected to hear the matter further in the coming days. The petitioner has also sought an interim stay on the surrender of seats pending the final decision.
Impact on Medical Admissions
If the plea is successful, it could delay the all India quota counselling process for super speciality courses in Tamil Nadu. The state government has not yet filed a response, but it is likely to support the petitioner's stance to protect the interests of local medical aspirants.
