Bengaluru: State to press for more medical seats for next academic year

BENGALURU: The state government has given an undertaking before the High Court that it will seek an increase in the number of medical seats under the 10% Economically Weaker Section reservation scheme for the next academic year.

The undertaking was given after a petition sought directions to the state government and Medical Education Department to take immediate action and send the proposal to enhance the number of undergraduate seats in government medical and dental and ESC colleges in the state for implementing reservation for economically weaker section immediately to the Medical Council of India and others.

According to the petitioner – a minor represented by his mother, the state failed to act upon repeated reminders/letters issued by the Medical Council of India.

The state submitted that it has decided to seek an increase in the medical seats under the reservation category and it has been communicated by a letter dated June 14, 2019 written by the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department to Secretary General, Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India. Since the present academic year has already commenced it may not be possible for the state government to implement the scheme for the present academic year, the court said in its order and disposed of the matter.