The Madras High Court has directed the Health Secretary, Selection Committee represented by its Secretary and the Directorate of Medical Education to keep one seat vacant in the PG medical courses for an NRI (non-resident Indian) candidate who approached the court.
Justice R. Mahadevan, before whom the petition came up, said, “It is apparent on the face of the records that the petitioner secured higher marks and her opportunity for admission for the said course has been rejected. Hence, as an interim measure there shall be an order of interim direction to the authorities to keep one seat vacant pending disposal of writ petition.”
In her petition S.Shwetha, a resident of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, sought a direction to the authorities to quash the provisional eligible list published by the selection committee dated May 15, and publish a fresh provisional eligible list for admission to the postgraduate degree/diploma courses under the NRI quota in self-financing medical colleges and colleges under deemed universities.
The petitioner, who was residing in Chennai, completed MBBS in 2015 from a private medical college and also completed the CRRI (Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship) in April 23, 2015.
Permanent registration
Ms. Shwetha was given the Permanent Medical Registration Certificate for Practice by the Tamil Nadu Medical Council.
She got married and started living with her husband in Abu Dhabi from 2015. As she stayed for more than 182 days abroad she got the NRI status and hence, she applied under NRI quota for the PG Medical Courses.
Ms. Shwetha applied separately to both the self- financing colleges as well as deemed universities under the management quota and NRI quota.
She also sent proof of her NRI status issued by Embassy of India at Abu Dhabi in favour of her husband Saravanan and her Residential ID Card issued by the UAE and visa to the concerned authorities.
Court seeks documents
The Judge directed the petitioner to produce all documentary evidence before the Selection committee on May 23, and on verification if the authorities are not satisfied with the same directed them to file a counter and posted the matter for further hearing to June 2.
