Another Twist to the Tale of Reservation of Medical Seats

The tale of the controversial reservation of postgraduate medical seats to in-service candidates has developed another twist. On Tuesday the Government announced that these candidates would have to serve the government for a minimum specified period upon completion of the PG degree failing which they would haver to pay a default fine of Rs 20 lakhs.

The government's decision to further increase the reservation of medical seats for in service candidates in addition to the already existing reservation had raised widespread protests among medical students across the state.

On Tuesday, the Health Minister K. Rosaiah Minister along with Vice-Chancellor, NTR Health University, R. Sambasiva Rao justified the increased reservation of the in-service quota claiming that there was a shortage of professors in Government medical colleges which could lead to the risk of de-recognition of the existing MBBS seats by the Medical Council of India. The claim was supported by the fact that the council had de-recognised 25 MBBS seats in Guntur Medical College the previous year when the posts of Professor were found to be vacant.

Therefore the present increase in reservation now comes with a price tag of a bond for Rs. 20 lakhs when claiming the allotted PG seat. The in-service candidates themselves become eligible for the quota only on completion of two years of Government service in the tribal areas or for three years in other areas.

The Health Minister appealed to medicos and junior doctors to call off their protests over the increased reservation for in-service candidates, realising the realities involved.