JUDGMENT :

AKULA VENKATA SESHA SAI, J.

1. Heard Sri K.G. Krishna Murthy, learned Senior Counsel, representing Sri K. Ramamohan, learned Counsel on record for petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Medical and Health for respondent Nos. 1, 4 and 5, Sri Taddi Nageswara Rao, learned Standing Counsel for respondent No. 2 and Sri S. Vivek Chandra Sekhar, learned Standing Counsel for respondent No. 3-Medical Council of India.

2. This writ petition calls in question the action of respondent No. 1-State Government in not providing incentive weightage of marks for in-service candidates with continuous regular service of 6 years, as provided to any in-service candidates working in tribal/rural areas, and the petitioners herein also pray for a further declaration to the effect that they are entitled for incentive weightage of marks for 6 years of continuous regular service as provided to in-service candidates working in tribal/rural areas.

3. It is contended by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for petitioners that as per Clause 9(iv) of the Medical Council of India Regulations, 2000, it is incumbent on the part of the State Government/competent authority to define 'remote and difficult a