VIJAYAWADA: NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) on Saturday postponed the second phase of its counselling session after instructions from BC Welfare Minister and TDP leader K Atchannaidu.
The government of Andhra Pradesh had in 2001 issued GO RT 550 stating that open category seats for professional courses should be filled on the basis of merit first, and only then should reserved seats be allotted.
It also makes clear that in case a student eligible for a reserved seat gets in through open category and leaves for another college, the vacated seat should be given to an eligible student of the same category.
In 2017, three general category students from Nellore district filed a petition in the High Court against the implementation of GO RT 550 stating that they lost their seats as the order “allows non-meritorious reserved category candidates” to occupy unreserved seats in violation of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
Taking into consideration the Supreme Court verdict in the Union of India vs Ramesh Ram case, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court stayed the implementation of para 5(2) of GO 550 on August 30, 2017, and directed the Medical and Health principal secretary, vice-chairman of NTRUHS and others concerned to file counter affidavits by September 17, 2017. However neither the government nor the university responded.
“We want to file a counter petition, but as the GO was issued in united AP, both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have to file a counter affidavit together. As Telangana has not shown any intention to do so, the case is still pending. On Friday, the State government filed a petition in court regarding the stay order,” S Appala Naidu, NTRUHS registrar said. Over 2,940 medical seats have been filled under convenor quota in the first phase of counselling held this year.
The YSRC, CPI and the Congress have demanded the implementation of GO RT 550 and pushed for counselling to be conducted again. Dr Gangadhar, AP Congress BC cell member alleged that many candidates belonging to BC categories were losing out as university officials were not implementing GO RT 550.
“All allotments have to take place according to GO RT 550. The government is ruining the lives of poor students who dream to become doctors. The entire counselling process has to be cancelled and should be conducted again as per GO RT 550,” he said.
Opposition pitch
The YSRC, CPI and the Congress have demanded the implementation of GO 550 and pushed for counselling to be conducted again.