New Delhi: The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that states can provide reservation in admissions to postgraduate medical courses for doctors serving in government hospitals.
A five-member Constitution Bench said states may provide for such a quota after requiring candidates to serve in rural, tribal, or hilly areas for a period of five years.
The Justice Arun Mishra-headed Bench added that the Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations barring such reservation were discriminatory, arbitrary, and unconstitutional.
The Bench also said that MCI is a creature of The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and has no power to make any reservations for in-service candidates seeking admission to PG degree courses.
