Date:03/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/03/stories/2005050302510500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Call to cancel health varsity counselling

Staff Reporter

Government charged with violating rule of reservation, giving undue benefit under unreserved, non-local seats

HYDERABAD: A number of SC and BC organisations have come together to demand cancellation of the recent counselling done by the NTR University of Health Sciences for admissions into PG medical courses as the procedure adopted was not in accordance with the rule of reservation.

They demanded cancellation of GO 123 and restoration of GO 44 with improvements and modifications and filing of a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. "If no corrective steps are taken within ten days we will be forced to launch an agitation," said R. Krishnaiah, president, BC Welfare Association, and J.B. Raju, president, Andhra Pradesh Dalit Sangham.

Seat matrix

Speaking to presspersons on Monday they said the seat matrix and procedures prescribed under GO 44 allowed for equity and maximum transparency for the first time. However, the High Court set aside the seat matrix. But instead of correcting the minor flaws, the Government had issued revised orders through GO 123 in a haste. "This GO repeats the earlier injustice and incorporates a new unjust provision of following the roster from point No. 1 every year," Mr Krishniah said.

I. Maisah, (Ambedkar Youth Association), Belaiah Naik (Lambadi Hakula Porata Samithi), G. Shankar (A.P SC Welfare Association) and Kancha Ailaiah were also present at the news conference. They charged the Government with violating the rule of reservation and according undue benefit in allocation of seats in all prime courses and colleges under the unreserved, non-local seats, resulting in denial of seats to all categories of respective local students.

Meritorious candidates

During 2003 and 2004 alone SC, ST and BC students were denied over 130 seats each year as the meritorious reserved category candidates were shown against their respective reserved categories instead of the open category, which they deserved.

The SC, BC representatives wanted sliding procedure to be implemented to provide justice to reserved candidates and ensure that the spirit of the rule of reservation benefited the weaker sections. The SC, ST, BC meritorious candidates should be called at their open category point when they are more meritorious than the OC candidates, they said.