1. Admission denied to a meritorious candidate who is a ward of an employee covered under the ESI Act/Scheme, for want of '78 days' contribution in one of the different contribution periods during the past 5 years by virtue of Clause '8' of Ext.P3 - Annexure I - Admission Policy, is the issue involved in this writ petition.

2. The petitioner's father is an employee of the Kerala Cashew Development Corporation having ESI coverage (Insurance No. 4801898806). The petitioner secured rank No. 10344 in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET for short) for the year 2013-2014 as revealed from Ext.P1. The 1st respondent Corporation has four Medical Colleges in India. Admission to the specified extent of 20% is reserved for the "Wards of the Insured Employees." Ext.P2 notification was issued on 16.08.2013 for filling up of the 162 seats of the Under Graduate Course (MBBS) under the 'ESIC Management Quota'. As per the said notification, it was stipulated that the application should be accompanied by a Certificate in 'Annexure III Form' issued by the concerned Regional Director, to the effect that the applicant is a "Ward of Insured Person".

3. Being an aspirant to have admi