85 per cent quota for state board students: Notice to MCI, government

Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, before whom separate petitions filed by Darnish Kumar and two others came up for hearing, issued notice to the state secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, secretary, selection committee and MCI returnable by July 5. 

However, the judge refused to grant any interim stay on the said GO as sought by the petitioners. The petitioners, pointing out to a Supreme Court observation, said once a common entrance test has been prescribed for all the candidates on the basis of which selection is made, the decision of the state to grant admission on pro rata basis for state board and other board students is arbitrary. 

Pointing out that all students qualifying for Class 12 examinations from schools within the state are entitled to be considered against all the available seats in the MBBS/BDS courses offered in colleges and education institutes in the state, the plea noted that students who have studied in CBSE/other boards have the right to be considered for admission to all available seats on the basis of the marks obtained by them in NEET and their right cannot be restricted to 15 per cent of the available seats. 

The petitioners further stated that once a common merit list is prepared for grant of admission based on NEET results, the only permissible reservation is in favour of the students who have studied in schools situated within the state of Tamil Nadu and not based on the board.

Even as the Tamil Nadu idol wing police are in a spot after a few of their men were reportedly involved in the smuggling and sale of panchaloha idols, the Madras High Court on Thursday sought the wing’s top brass to explain as to “Why the police officers involved in the incident were yet to be arrested?”

Justice R Mahadevan, who had directed the Inspector General Pon Manickavel to be present in court with all relevant reports pertaining to the case, put forth a slew of questions as to “Why have you not arrested them? Arrest them. Don’t you know their whereabouts?” But when Mancikavel informed the judge that they had information that the suspects were very much in Chennai and efforts were on in full swing to arrest them, the judge asked him details about the strength of the Idol wing and the vacancy position. Also, directing the Tiruvallur SP to file a report on the missing DSP Kader Batcha, considered the main accused in the case, Justice Mahadevan posted the case for further hearing to June 30. 

The proceedings pertain to a plea moved by advocate Elephant G Rajendran that two police officials and others seized a set of panchaloha idols. But instead of handing them over to the government, sold the idols to a smuggler for Rs 15 lakh.  He had sought to transfer the case to a neutral agency.  Meanwhile, Rajendran also moved another plea seeking police protection. The case has been posted to July 21.