Madras HC Issues Notice On PIL Seeking 30% Reservation In Medical Colleges For Government School Students

The Madras High Court has issued notice on a PIL seeking 30% reservation of the seats in all medical colleges for the students who have cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and have studied in a government-managed school from class 6 to12.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy issued notice to respondents. Advocates M. Dinesh and K. Santhosh appeared for the petitioner while Advocate V. Chandra Sekar appeared for the Center and Government Pleader Muthukumar for the state.

The plea filed by K. Venkatesan, National Vice President, Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, states that during the recently concluded NEET Exam 2022, 2656 Students from Government schools belonging to socially backward sections have successfully achieved eligibility and hence are qualified to pursue their dreams of medical education. But as the reservation is limited to only 7.5% of the total seats, less than 600 students will get admission.

The petition further added that the state Government should consider the plight of Government school students and their inability to pay the high cost of private coaching and should increase the Horizontal reservation to 30% from the existing 7.5%.

"This year 2656 students belonging to poor and marginalized sections of society have successfully met NEET minimum eligibility as per ranking list published by TN Govt on 17th Oct 2022 but due to 7.5% limit, about 500 students will get benefit and rest of them will have no recourse, unless Honourable Court urgently steps in and direct the Government to increase the horizontal reservation quota to 30%, so all eligible 2656 students will get MBBS/PDS seats.", the plea says.

The petitioner has further stated that inspite of many challenges and drawbacks, during the recently concluded 2022 NEET examination, only 2674 students who studied in government schools achieved the minimum Eligibility requirement as per NEET exam. Most are from very poor families and would be first generation graduates and hence deserve support.

In 2020, the Government of Tamil Nadu had decided to reserve 7.5% of the seats in all medical colleges for the students who have cleared NEET and have studied in government-managed schools from class 6 to 12.

The Madras High court vide its order dated April 7, 2022 upheld the validity of the Government decision on 7.5% horizontal reservation for Government school students.

Cause Title- K. Venkatesan v. Union of India & Ors.