10 students proceed to Assam medical colleges

From A Correspondent

Shillong, Sept 24: Ten students from Meghalaya, who had earlier got admission into various medical colleges in Assam but were not allowed by the neighbouring State to be admitted, have proceeded to their respective institutions after they got relief from the Supreme Court.

It may be mentioned that on 22nd September the Supreme Court had directed that 10 medical seats be allocated to Meghalaya out of 27 seats available in Assam.

This order came after hearing a special leave petition in New Delhi on Friday filed by the Meghalaya government against the Assam government for abolishing 10 medical seats reserved for Meghalaya.

“Majority of the students who have been selected to pursue their medical studies in the various medical colleges in Assam have already gone to their respective institutions. The students are likely to get admission by tomorrow itself,” a senior government official informed this correspondent here on Sunday.

The senior government official said all the candidates who have been selected to the various medical seats are toppers, adding that they are NEET-qualified candidates. tiol Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET is the topmost criteria for selection to the MBBS course.

“I do not think there will be any more problem since the apex court has given its ruling in our favour,” the senior government official added.

Earlier on Saturday, Meghalaya Health & Family Welfare Minister Roshan Wajri had met the students and parents on Saturday following the favourable judgment of the court.

It may be mentioned that in the special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court, the Meghalaya government alleged that Assam had not communicated to it regarding the change of rules for admission into medical colleges, which led to the abolition of the 10 medical seats reserved for Meghalaya.

Meghalaya claimed that according to Paragraph 6 of the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on March 15, 1976 on division of assets and liabilities between the two governments, it was agreed that Assam would provide Meghalaya all facilities available in “common institutions (including medical colleges)” located in Assam, provided the expenditure was shared on pro-rata basis.

Assam has been reserving 10 medical seats for Meghalaya — four each in Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh and Gauhati Medical College & Hospital and two in Silchar Medical College & Hospital.