The Madras High Court suggests that two seats should be reserved again for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar award winners for MBBS and BDS course admissions.
The Madras High Court recently noted that reserving 2 seats for winners of the National Child Award for outstanding innovation achievements in MBBS/BDS admissions could be a positive move. A petitioner approached the court asking the Ministry of Women and Child Development to recommend his name to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for a spot in the MBBS program for the 2021-2022 academic year, using one of the two seats set aside for awardees. The Division Bench, including Justice RMT. Teekaa Raman and N. Senthilkumar, stated that exceptional child awardees deserve support and that the reservation in medical and science fields was a good initiative that should continue, although it seems the policy has changed.
Advocate G.S. Vivekanandan represented the petitioner, while Assistant Solicitor General of India A.R. L. Sundaresan represented the respondents. The petitioner, a Young Scientist from a rural area, achieved notable success in academics and technology and passed the NEET Examination in 2021. He received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar and believed he would be selected from the Central Pool for the Ministry of Human Resource Development or the Ministry of Women and Child Development. This led him to file the writ petition. The Single Bench concluded that no relief could be granted for the current academic year since the seats had already been surrendered. Dissatisfied with this decision, the petitioner filed an appeal.
The Bench acknowledged the statement from the Assistant Solicitor General of India that the Scheme, which reserved two seats for winners of the National Child Award for outstanding achievements in innovation, has been discontinued for the academic year 2022-2023. The Bench stated, “Given this submission, we believe that this is a policy decision by the Government, and this Court cannot intervene. Therefore, we cannot provide the relief requested by the writ petitioner.” The Court noted the importance of encouraging child awardees for their exceptional achievements. It was observed that while the Scheme was in place for a time, the policy was later changed.
“For the greater good of our nation and to promote achievements in Science and Technology, having two reserved seats in the central pool for MBBS/BDS admissions after passing the NEET Examination could help our students excel. Thus, even though this is a policy decision, considering the facts of the case, we suggest reinstating the reservation of two seats for the awardees of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. This would foster a ‘scientific temper’ among students, as outlined in the preamble of the Constitution of India,” the Bench concluded. The Petition was then closed with this recommendation.
Cause Title: SA.Sivasooryaa v. Union of India (Case No.:W.A.(MD) No.1046 of 2022)
Appearance:
Appellant: Advocate G.S.Vivekanandan
Respondents: Assistant Solicitor General of India AR.L.Sundaresan, Advocate Mr.S.Jeyasingh
