The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of plea challenging government decision of providing reservation under Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) quota in government and private medical colleges in the state. The case will be taken up for the hearing again on Friday.
A division bench comprising justice Sunil Shukre and justice Pushpa Ganediwala heard both the parties (petitioners and respondents) at length.
Petitioners — Dr Shivani Raghuwanshi and Dr Pranjali Charde have challenged the Government Resolution (GR) issued  on March 8 contending that procedure adopted by the government  for conducting postgraduate dental (MDS) admissions was not in accordance with the law. They urged the court to quashi the GR.
Senior counsel Subodh Dharmadhikari, who appeared for the petitioners, contended that MDS admission commenced from October 16, 2018, while the amendment regarding reservation under SEBC quota came into force from November 30, 2018.
Defending the government’s decision, senior counsel Sunil Manohar argued on the bifurcation of the NEET Exam till 2018, which says that in colleges, the admissions would be conducted by both union and state governments.
In last hearing, the judges allowed Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) to continue the admissions process, but it would be subjected to HC’s final decision.
According to the petitioners, seats for SC, ST, VJ, NT, OBC, EWS and open were distributed from ‘total available seats’, which are apart from NRI quota seats. However, SEBC quota was calculated on the basis of ‘total seats’, that is before deducting NRI quota seats, which is a discrimination in itself under Article 14 of Constitution.