Noting that every State has the right to frame its own service rules, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to quash Karnataka government’s rules giving preference to in-service candidates in admissions to postgraduate medical courses.
A vacation Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and U.U. Lalit passed the order after the petition filed by two doctors, Saikumar V. and Pradeep Kumar, challenged the slab system for admissions to PG courses through Karnataka State PGET 2015.
Under this system, the State gave preference to five-year, four-year and three-year service candidates. The petition had claimed that the government should have relied on merit rather than such a slab system for admissions.
They said the High Court of Karnataka order of April 30, allowing the slab system for admissions, violated the Medical Council of India guidelines and judicial precedents.
“We are not inclined to interfere with the HC’s order. The writ petition challenging the validity of the rules is pending before the High Court. The court should decide the matter on its own merit,” the Bench said.
The Bench acknowledged contentions raised by senior advocate Amit Singh Chadha, appearing for successful candidates, that the MCI rules permitted classification of the doctors working in the government services.
Karnataka gives preference to in-service candidates in admissions
Two doctors had challenged the slab system
Says every State has the right to frame its own service rules.
