8 Sep :"Education has become a flourishing business in the country," the apex court said when the Centre informed it that most of the medical colleges in the country had not complied with the norms for filling up seats under the all-India quota.
The Centre on Monday told the apex court that details pertaining to the 296 medical seats which are to be filled under the all-India quota have been concealed from the Union government by various medical colleges in the States/UTs.
The list of concealed seats include 197 MBBS seats and 97 BDS seats, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, told a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi on Monday.
As per norms, 15 percent of the seats in each States/UTs are reserved for the all-India quota which have to be intimated to the Director General of Health Services by the respective by the respective medical colleges.
However, it has now come to light that most of the colleges had not complied with the norms and the truth has come to light only after some of the aggrieved aspirants moved the apex court seeking counselling sessions for these All India quota seats.
"So this must be happening all these years. Its a mess," the bench observed in response to Subramaniam’s remarks that ,"Its a very sorry state of affairs your lordships."
Meanwhile, the bench directed the personal appearance of the Director General of Medical Education, UP Government for allegedly filling up the All India seats in contravention of the apex court’s earlier direction.
The apex court said the UP official should be personally present on Tuesday to explain as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
The bench directed personal appearance of the official after being dissatisfied with the reply filed by the Director General of Medical Education of UP who filed his reply to the contempt notice issued by it on 5th September.
The apex court had issued contempt notices to the Directors of Medical Education, UP and Punjab on 5th September for completing the "second counselling" process for the medical/BDS seats falling under the all-India quota, in violation of its earlier direction.
The apex court had issued the notice after counsel for some of the aggrieved students complained that UP and Punjab had completed the counselling process for the all-India quota despite the apex court fixing the date on 14th September to be conducted at Delhi.
The bench said it would also examine the reply filed by the Punjab Government.
According to the aggrieved students, the 15 percent all-India quota seats which is estimated at 800 odd seats spread over the country is sought to be filled by the respective colleges with their own candidates in violation of the reservation rule.
The apex court had issued an ultimatum to all medical and dental colleges in the country to complete the admission by 14th September after including all the seats available under 15 percent all-India quota for the Academic Year 2008.