Sanjay Karol, J.

As common questions are involved in both these writ petitions, they have been taken up together for the purpose of adjudication.

2. Petitioners challenge the merit lists prepared by the respondents-authorities as well as mop-up counselling conducted by the Counselling Committee, on 31.5.2017, for the purpose of admission to Post Graduation (MD/MS) Courses for the Session 2017-2020, pursuant to public notice dated 24.5.2017 issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and Notice dated 25.5.2017 (Annexure P-3) issued by the Principal-cum-Member Secretary, Counselling Committee, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla (hereafter referred to as IGMC), for admission in IGMC and Dr. Rajindra Prasad Medical College and Hospital, Kangra and Tanda (hereinafter referred to as RPMC) for the academic session 2017-2020. Prospectus for admission to MD/MS courses, for academic Session 2017-2020, was issued by the Department of Medical Education and Research, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, in the month of March, 2017. Time schedule was