Ambika Bhardwaj
Published On: January 03, 2022 at 17:33 IST
The Centre asked the Supreme Court on Monday to expedite the hearing on the authenticity of the EWS quota in postgraduate courses in medical colleges to January 6, citing the need for speed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta brought the issue in front of a bench ruled over by Justice D Y Chandrachud, who said he would seek advice with the Chief Justice of India before forming the bench, which would also include Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath, to hear the case.
Senior advocate Arvind Datar, making an appearance for a party, requested permission to file a reply to the Centre’s affidavit.
Causing a delay in admittance to postgraduate medical courses, medicos have resorted to demonstrations and agitation in this city.
The Centre stated in its affidavit that it has agreed to accept the recommendation of a three-member panel to keep the constant gross annual family income limit of Rs 8 lakh or less for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
The Centre stated in an affidavit filed in a case involving NEET-PG admissions that the panel has recommended that “only those households whose yearly salary is up to Rs eight lakh would be qualified to have the advantage of EWS reservation.”
Following the assurance given to the Supreme Court, the government formed the member committee on November 30, which included Ajay Bhushan Pandey, former finance secretary, V K Malhotra, member secretary, ICSSR, and Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Adviser to the Centre.
On October 25, the Court ordered the Centre to halt NEET-PG counselling till it determined the authenticity of OBC and EWS reservations in the All-India Quota (AIQ).
A team of petitioners guided by Neil Aurelio Nunes challenged the Centre’s July 29 notification to enact OBC and EWS reserved seat in NEET-All India Quota in PG courses beginning with the current academic session.