( 1 ) PERMISSION to file special leave petition granted.

( 2 ) LEAVE granted.

( 3 ) THE Medical Council of India has impugned the order dated 15-1-2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana allowing the writ petitions filed by several respondents claiming to have been wrongfully deprived of their right to admission to the medical courses. Several such writ petitions were filed. Initially, an interim order was passed in CWP No. 15618 of 2003 on 6-11-2003 by which the High Court directed the respondents University to provisionally admit the writ petitioners to the first year MBBS/bds course in accordance with law on merit within seven days. At the time of the grant of interim order it was made clear that the provisional admission granted to the writ petitioners would not confer any right upon them to claim equity at the time of the final disposal of the writ petitions or otherwise and if they were not found eligible or entitled to be admitted to the course then they would have to vacate the seats irrespective of the fact that they might have deposited the fee or spent time in studies.

( 4 ) ACCORDING to the University since the time for compliance was short and because the a