HYDERABAD: Stating that an interim order that was aimed at providing clarity in maintaining 50:50 merit and reserved quotas in filling medical seats was actually being misinterpreted by the authorities for reducing the reserved quota seats in admissions, scores of SC, ST, and BC students have moved the
Hyderabad high court seeking justice.
The high court last year stayed certain portion of government order 550 issued by the composite
Andhra Pradesh state that allowed top rankers to choose a college of their choice. However, following pleas from OC candidates stating that the authorities were filling the seats vacated by such reserved meritorious candidates with reserved categories and that this was affecting the 50% merit seats, the HC earlier said that the merit 50% should not be reduced.
Now, the reserved candidates are coming forward saying that this restraint order of the HC is being wrongly interpreted by the authorities, which is resulting in a situation where all reserved categories put together are getting far less than 50% seats.
V Ramchander Goud, counsel for the students of the weaker sections, told a bench headed by Justice V Ramasubramanian that the misinterpretation of the HC order had resulted in the reserved students losing as many as 496 medical seats in AP and 300 seats in
Telangana in the current year itself. There was an urgent need to rectify the issue, he said.
“We understand the spirit behind the HC interim order. It says neither the OC candidates nor the reserved candidates should lose on account of sliding. Each must have their 50% intact. This was the essence of the HC order. But this is being disturbed now”, the counsel said.
The case will be heard again on Thursday.
Representative image
