The Madras High Court has permitted private dental colleges in the State to admit students under the management quota for MDS courses strictly in accordance with the existing laws and rules.
Passing interim orders on a public interest writ petition from Indian Dental Association (IDA), the first bench comprising Acting Chief Justice RK Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan said on Wednesday that the admission for the academic year 2013-2014 should be made as per the Dental Council of India Act, revised MDS course regulations of 2007, GO dated February 23, 2012, and TN Dr MGR Medical University circulars insofar as their share of seats only. They should apportion the ratio as stated in the laws and regulations in force and this order would be subject to the final orders to be passed in the petition, the bench added.
The PIL prayed for a direction to the authorities to admit students to PG dental courses strictly as per laws and regulations based on the merit list published by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME). It also sought a direction to the government to monitor admissions to the courses.
IDA counsel SD Venkateshwaran submitted that the post-graduate courses in respect of dental surgery were governed by the UGC Act, rules and regulations, notifications of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the Dental Council of India. Admission to all post-graduate programmes in private institutions should be solely based on merit, which should be determined through a common admission test. Several private colleges were not following the transparent process to admit students, Venkateshwaran contended.