Imphal, August 09: Giving a severe blow to the State Govt, the recent amendment of the rules of entrance examination for pursuing MBBS/BDS course and relaxation of 40 percent cut off marks for the ST and SC candidates has been challenged before the Gauhati High Court Imphal Bench.

Five SC candidates have filed a writ petition in this connection before the Court.

One petitioner, named Naorem Shanta was short-listed in the waiting list of the SC category while the other four scored 40 and above percent mark in the said entrance examination were left out.

The writ petition contended that the State Government has breached the regulation of Medical Council of India (MCI) and prayed for quashing the latest amended rule and the subsidiary list selecting 17 ST candidates, who scored less than 40 percent.

Referring to Section 5 of the regulation of MCI, the State Government had on June 23 last amended the Manipur MBBS/BDS entrance examination (selection of candidates) Rules 1993, and fixed the minimum qualifying aggregate marks for general candidates at 50 percent and while the cut off percentage for ST/SC and OBC candidates was fixed at 40 percent.

The amended rule also endorsed for transferring of vacant seats of a particular category to another category in the event the number of vacancies are not filled up by candidates from a particular category.

The Government had conducted the medical entrance examination under the amended rule and the results were declared accordingly, in which only one ST candidate could qualify thereby leaving 17 seats out of total 18 reserved seats for ST lying vacant.

One SC candidate also qualified the entrance test, but two candidates of reserved seats, one for the ward of ex-servicemen and another for meritorious sportspersons could not be filled up as no candidates from that category could score 40 percent mark.

But under pressure from various tribal bodies, the State Govt retracted its step and nullified the amended rule on July 5.Accordingly, a subsidiary select list was brought out by the Govt which included 17 ST candidates.

Children and wards of ex-servicemen and meritorious sportsperson were also short listed in the select list subsequently.

After hearing both the parties, the Court headed by Justice SK Kar on Friday issued notices on the respondents including the State Government represented by the Chief Secretary, Commissioner and Director of Health Services, Secretary of MCI and the 17 selected ST candidates.

The Court has fixed August 14 for further hearing of the case.

Advocate Naorem Umakanta Singh appeared on behalf of the five petitioners.

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