Supreme Court directs Karnataka Government to give explanation on breach of November 20 deadline for MDS PG Counselling 2021
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Secretary, Medical Education of the State Government to file an affidavit explaining the circumstances in which the State of Karnataka breached the deadline of November 20, 2021, set by the Central Government for completing admissions for PG courses in MDS for 2021-2022 batch.
A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna noted "we find it necessary that the State of Karnataka must explain the circumstances in which it carried out admissions beyond the deadline of 20 November 2021."
The bench was hearing the plea seeking setting aside of the seat matrix notified in December 2021 and extending the last date for making admissions for PG MDS courses from 20 November 2021 up to 30 January 2022.
The bench noted that though the deadline for completing admissions for PG courses in MDS for the 2021-22 session was extended from November 10, 2021 to November 20, 2021 by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and that the Dental Council of India adopted a similar deadline, the State of Karnataka carried out the first round of counseling between December 4 and 18, 2021, while the second round of counseling was carried out between 18 and 30 December 2021. Whereas, the admissions have been made beyond the cut-off date.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan appearing for the petitioners submitted that the "State of Karnataka was exclusively entrusted with the responsibility of conducting counseling, there being no other modality for completing admissions and it was the State itself which delayed the process and carried out admissions beyond the deadline fixed by the Union Government."
"633 students have been admitted by the State of Karnataka albeit beyond the cut-off date and if these admissions are not regularized at the present stage, the colleges in the State of Karnataka will have no students for three years," Divan added.
Whereas, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appearing for Central Government and Advocate Gaurav Sharma appearing for the Dental Council of India submitted that the "State of Karnataka was aware of the fact that the cut-off date was extended only till 20 November 2021." In addition to this, it was submitted that the classes have already begun and there would be no occasion to extend the deadline."
Additional Advocate General appearing for the State of Karnataka submitted that the students were placed on notice in regard to the consequences which may ensue since the admissions are made beyond the cutoff date.
The bench has further allowed the Central Government and Dental Council of India to file their affidavits in the meantime and listed the matter for further hearing on January 21, 2022.