4 Sep :The Supreme Court on Thursday issued contempt notices to the Directors of Medical Education of UP and Punjab for completing the "second counselling" process for medical and BDS college seats, falling under the all-India quota, in violation of its earlier direction.
A three-judge bench of Justices B N Aggrawal, H S Bedi and G S Singhvi asked the contemptors to file their response to the contempt notice and post the matter for further hearing on 8th September.
The apex court issued the notices after some of the aggrieved students complained that the two states had completed the counselling process for the all-India quota despite the apex court fixing 14th September for the process in Delhi.
In a slight modification of its earlier order, the apex court on Thursday said the counselling would now be held in Delhi from 10th-14th September.According to the aggrieved students, the 15 per cent all-India quota seats which are estimated at 800-odd, is sought to filled by the respective colleges with their own candidates in violation of the reservation rule.
On last Friday, the apex court had issued an ultimatum to all medical/dental colleges in the country to complete the "extended second counselling" for admission by 14th September after including all the seats available under the 15 per cent all-India quota for the academic year 2008.
The apex court said that after completion of the extended second counselling, the Director General of Health Services shall send intimation to all the colleges about the unfilled seats under the all-India quota on 15th September, so as to enable them to fill up the seats in accordance with law.
The colleges upon receipt of the information from the Director General of Health Services, shall complete the extended second counselling in their respective institutions by 29th September, the apex court said.
The apex court also passed the direction on a petition filed by aggrieved candidate complaining about the delay in counselling.
In the counter affidavit filed by Professor Mangala Kohli, Assistant Director General (Medical Education), it was stated that only 47 out of 117 medical colleges and 5 out of 27 dental colleges have furnished information in relation to vacant seats (64 MBBS seats and 16 BDS seats) of all-India quota in relation to academic year 2008.