Gujarat: A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra stated that the student would have been eligible for admission to a few government medical colleges in the state, even in the general category index.
The Supreme Court has intervened to stay an order by the Gujarat High Court, which upheld the cancellation of an MBBS admission on the grounds that the student did not belong to the Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC) in Gujarat.
Background of the Case
The petitioner, the son of a Panipuri seller from Uttar Pradesh, had his MBBS admission at Government Medical College, Vadodara cancelled in September 2023.
This decision was based on the finding that his Teli subcaste, to which he belonged, could not be recognized as SEBC in Gujarat since his parents were originally from Uttar Pradesh, where the caste falls under Other Backward Class.
Supreme Court’s Observations
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted that the petitioner’s merit as a general category candidate had been considered in several government medical colleges in Gujarat.
However, the High Court’s decision to disqualify him from the SEBC category also led to his disqualification for the reserved seat in the medical college.
Stay Order and Issuance of Notices
The Supreme Court issued notices to the college, the State of Gujarat, the Medical Council of India, and Maharaja Sayaji Rao University, while staying the order cancelling the student’s admission. This decision halts further action until the matter is resolved.
Gujarat High Court’s Decision
On March 26, the Gujarat High Court upheld the cancellation of the petitioner’s admission, despite acknowledging that he would have been eligible for admission in the general category.
The division bench emphasized that once someone has claimed the benefit of reservation, they must stand by that choice.
Petitioner’s Appeal to the Supreme Court
Aggrieved by the High Court’s decision, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court through advocate Purvish Malkan, seeking relief from the cancellation of his admission.
Awaiting Resolution
The case highlights the complexities surrounding caste-based reservations in educational institutions and the importance of clarity in determining eligibility criteria. The Supreme Court’s intervention provides hope for a fair resolution that considers all aspects of the petitioner’s case.
