( 1 ) ALL these three writ petitions have been heard together and are being disposed of by this judgment as the pivotal question involved in all these matters is the same, namely, whether reservation for SC/st category is permissible in the West Bengal Government service quota for admission to the various Post-Graduate Medical Degree and Diploma Courses in certain institutions/colleges in West Bengal in 1997.

( 2 ) ). The total number of seats for the various post-graduate medical courses under the University of Calcutta in 1997 is 443. Out of that, 61 seats are allotted to all India quota and the remaining 382 seats are to be filled up by the University of Calcutta inasmuch as admission to 75% of total number of seats in the different post-graduate courses is conducted by the University of Calcutta while admission to the remaining 25% of the seats is open to candidates selected through All India Entrance Examination. Out of the 382 West Bengal seats at the disposal of the Calcutta University for admission, 80 seats are reserved as West Bengal Government quota to be filled up by selection from amongst the candidates in the West Bengal Health Service