Increase of management quota in medical colleges stayed

Justice G. Rohini of Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday stayed operation of the State government’s orders increasing the management quota in the private unaided medical and dental colleges. This interim order is restricted to this academic year only.

The Judge was passing these orders in a writ petition filed by Swathi stating that when the EAMCET notification was issued in February, at the time of examination in May 2009 and declaration of the result and award of rank, the management quota was 30 per cent of the total seats.

But the government had increased the quota to 40 per cent when admissions are under way by the EAMCET Convener. The last-minute change was illegal, she said and contended that the order was issued at the behest of the associations of the managements within one day of their making representation. She said that the fee structure for the management quota did not permit students like her to venture even to obtain the application form.
“Not permissible”

When the case had come up for admission on Wednesday, it was adjourned to Thursday to facilitate the government to explain how and when the impugned orders were issued. On Thursday, the Judge heard at length the counsel for the petitioner as well as the Government Pleader. The Judge prima facie felt that such an increase in the management quota at this juncture was not permissible and suspended the GO 144 for this academic year.

Special Correspondent from Vijayawada reports:

The authorities of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences said on Thursday that they were awaiting a direction from the government with regard to the stay issued by the High Court on the issue. They said the university would not be able to take any action on its own and it would act only as per government directions.