The Center had approached the apex court after the Madras High Court ruled that the 10 per cent reservation given to EWS in all-India quota seats in medical colleges would require the permission of the apex court.
The Supreme Court will consider the central government’s plea to implement the Economically Disadvantaged Department (EWS) quota in medical school admissions. The Center approached the Supreme Court after the Madras High Court ruled that the 10 per cent reservation given to EWS for seats in the All India Quota (AIQ) of medical colleges would require the approval of the Supreme Court.
On August 25, the Madras High Court accepted the Centre’s July 29 announcement regarding the reservation of 27 per cent OBCs for admission in medical colleges under the All India Quota (AIQ).
However, in the same comment, it was stated that a 10 per cent EWS reserve above a maximum of 49 per cent of the reservation would require Supreme Court approval and any reservation for the EWS up to that time must be deemed invalid. The statement was made during the hearing of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK Contempt) petition against the Madras High Court Center.
The DMK approached the Madras High Court, denouncing the court’s verdict and requesting a 50 per cent quota for OBCs as virtually all the seats were in state-run colleges. Although the quota limit has been fixed at 49 per cent in most states, it has been raised to 69 per cent in Tamil Nadu – 50 per cent for OBCs, 18 per cent for Scheduled Castes and 1 per cent for Scheduled Tribes.
In response to the Madras High Court judgment, the Center has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on September 3 and the case will now be considered by a bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud and VV Nagarathana.