New Delhi, June 19: To prevent harassment of meritorious students, the Centre today challenged before the Supreme Court a Maharashtra government decision to withdraw 15 per cent of the seats in MBBS and BDS courses in the state medical colleges reserved for the all India quota. On mentioning of the application by counsel A D N Rao, a vacation bench comprising Justice R C Lahoti and Justice Brijesh Kumar kept it for hearing on Monday.

The Union Government mentioned in its application that the Maharashtra government had intimated the ministry of health on April 30 this year about passing of a legislation withdrawing its seats earlier available for the 15 per cent all India quota, which was fixed by the apex court in 1986.

The Centre said that "such a contention on the part of the state of Maharashtra may amount to disregarding and ignoring the law laid down by the Supreme Court" and added it had informed the state that it could withdraw the 15 per cent quota only on the permission of the apex court.
However, a further communication was received from the state of Maharashtra reiterating its stand and requesting the Centre not to nominate any student under the all India quota for government medical and dental colleges in the state.

The Centre said that the common entrance test for all India quota for MBBS and BDS courses were held on April 27 and results were expected later this month.

Bureau Report