The Supreme Court on Monday, while deciding to examine the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu law providing for 69 per cent quota in employment and educational institutions, directed the State government to create additional seats in the first year MBBS for meritorious students affected by the quota law. A Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri gave this direction on a petition filed by R. Harshini, who could not secure admission in MBBS despite securing 911 rank
Mandal report
She contended that she could not get into medical colleges due to the 69 per cent quota law, which has been challenged on the ground that the quota exceeds 50 per cent contemplated in the Mandal Commission judgment.
After hearing senior counsel K.M. Vijayan for students and senior counsel Rakesh Diwedi for the State, the Bench extended for the academic year 2013-2014 its earlier order directing the Tamil Nadu government to create extra seats in medicine and other courses in educational institutions to accommodate those meritorious students in ‘open category’ affected by the 69 per cent reservation policy.
In excess of 69%
The extra seats will be in excess of the 69 per cent reservation being implemented by the State government every year.
