Kargil/ Jan. 11/ News Desk: Nomination of MBBS and BDS seats in various national institutes has rigged a new controversy on social media sites in Ladakh. Some of the nominated candidates allege that the seats are divided among the two districts instead of allotment on merit basis, which they consider violation of norms. This has caused “injustice” with candidates that have scored good in the NTA-NEET entrance exam, alleged students.

A circular from the Office of the Director Health Services held, “It is pertinent to inform all the general public and particularly the concerned, that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, has allotted 6 Nos of MBBS and 3 Nos of BDS seats to the Union Territory of Ladakh for the academic session 2020-21 from Central Pool.”

A selected candidate wishing anonymity said to Voice of Ladakh that division of the seats for the two Districts of Leh and Kargil has thwarted him/ her from getting a seat in MBBS. Objection is being raised that a candidate with NEET score of only 149 has secured seat for MBBS while many others that have more than 400 score have left with no seats.

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Objection is also being raised on the allocation of colleges which is also allegedly not being allotted on merit basis. 

In this regard the All Kargil (Ladakh) Students’ Association Delhi in their letter to the Commissioner/Secretary (Finance/Tourism/Health/Hr. Education) alleged that “the above circular stands in violation of the ‘Modified Scheme’ approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, vide order dated 07.06.2012 passed in I.A. No. 35/2012 in Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 443 of 1992 filed by Sharwan Kumar V/s DGHS & Ors. where it is instructed that the allotment of seat to the candidates shall be made based on the merit of NEET-UG Examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).”

Social Activist Sajjad Hussain Kargili also gave a representation on the behalf of general public and NEET-2020 qualified candidates as Grievance/objection regarding nomination/allocation of seats in Central Pool of MBBS and BDS for year 2020-21.

“the selection of candidates for the seats should be made as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry. In that letter as per Clause 3.2 of the guideline “The selection of candidate will be made on the basis of rank obtained in the NEET 2020 conducted by NTA”.

“Pursuant to this, Health and Medical Education Department UT Ladakh, vide Circular No. DHS/2020-21/MISE/3913-32 dated: 07/01/2021 nominated candidates for seat allocation in the Central Pool. However as per the merit list prepared by JKBOPEE vide Notification No. 49-BOPEE of 2020 and 59-BOPEE of 2020, dated 18-11-2020 and 07-12-2020 respectively, candidates with higher ranks, if willing, should get an opportunity to upgrade seat from J&K Medical College to colleges available under Central Pool in strict compliance to the guidelines issued by the Ministry. In this regard, your goodself is requested to look into that matter so that no injustice is done on behalf of the Government”, maintained the recommendation.

It is pertinent to mention that an order by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India No. U. 14014/04/2020- ME-II (FTS No. 8056692) dated 23 November 2020 clearly mentions in para 8, “It is requested that the States/UTs should nominate their candidates on the basis of merit system devised by them keeping in view the above guidelines.”

The NTA-NEET prospectus on admission and reservation policy maintains that “Admission under State Quota Seats shall be subject to reservation policy and eligibility criteria prevailing in the State/Union Territory as notified by the respective State/Union Territory from time to time.”

The same prospectus on reservation policy maintains that “Reservation policy of the Government of India is applicable to NEET (UG) Examination. According to this, only in the Central Universities and Institutions, 10% of the seats are reserved for the category General-Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS), 15% of the seats are reserved for the category Scheduled Caste (SC), 7.5% for the category Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 27% for the category Other Backward Classes belonging to the Non-Creamy layer (OBC-NCL).”

However, there is no mention of seat distribution among districts in a State or Union Territory.

Social activist and advocate Nisar Hussain Ladakhi in a letter to the Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, Civil Secretariat UT Ladakh also raised objection over the issue.

“It is apposite to mention here that the seat allocated by way of Supra mentioned circular has been issued in sheer violation of office memorandum for guidelines of allocation of MBBS and BDS seats from Central pool issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India”, maintained the letter.