Bombay High Court denies implementation of SEBC quota in Maharastra medical admissions in this session

Mumbai. May 4. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has given a major setback to the Maharashtra government’s plan to implement 16% reservations for the Maratha community under the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) quota. The bench has ruled that Maratha reservations would not be applicable from this year. It was however, clarified by the bench that the SEBC quota would be applicable from the next academic year.

The quota would be implemented from the next academic session

The provisional seat matrix published on March 27^th this year, that made provisions for SEBC candidates, was declared as “illegal”. The bench that has given this ruling comprised of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Pushpa Ganediwala. The bench, partially allowing the plea, stated as follows “This (March 27^th) matrix should not be given effect for the limited purpose of SEBC reservation in current admission process. The respondents however, would conduct the admission process and complete it in accordance with the applicable law, rules and orders in force, as of October 16^th and November 2^nd, as the case may be.” After a strongly contested marathon hearing, the judges had closed the petition for orders on Friday. In the last hearing, the DMER was allowed to continue with the admission process by the judges. It was stayed earlier after the petitioners had moved to the High Court, but subject to a final decision.

Dr Shivani Raghuvanshi and Dr Pranjali Charde- the petitioners in this case- had challenged the government resolution dated March 8^th. They had contended that the procedure adopted by the respondents in the case for conducting MDS, i.e. postgraduate dental, as well as other admissions was not in accordance with the law. They termed the government resolution in question as unconstitutional and requested to quash the same. The order ensured 16% SEBC quota in government and private medical institutions across the state of Maharashtra.

DMER would have to conduct the admission process again as 16% SEBC quota gets quashed for this year

With this major ruling of the Nagpur bench, the state government is finding itself in a very tough spot as the entire process of filling up seats would have to be done again. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) conducts all medical admissions in the state.