Back
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Sujoy Paul and Arun Kumar Sharma, JJ.
Vijendra Dhanware (Dr.) & Another v. State of M.P. & Others
Writ Petition No. 25819 of 2021 (Jabalpur); Decided on 14.1.2022
(1) Chikitsa Shiksha Pravesh Niyam, 2018 (M.P.) -- Rr. 2 (s) and 14 -- Medical Council of India Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 - Reg.9(4) -- "in-service candidate" --policy dated 28.2.2019 provides additional marks/incentive to serving candidates -- reservation/separate channel of entry to extent of 30% in P.G. degree course made by Government Order dated 19.8.2021 -- definition wide enough to include medical officers -- petitioners working as medical officers in district hospitals -- no impediment in said order and rules deprives petitioners from right of consideration in post graduate degree course as separate channel of entry -- petitioners fall in category of "in-service candidates" for purpose of postgraduate medical courses. (2016) 7 SCC 353 2016 (2) JLJ 75 (SC), (1999) 7 SCC 120 and (2021) 6 SCC 568 distinguished. [Paras 16 and 23]
(2) Medical Council of India Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 -- Reg.9(8) -- applicable to post graduate diploma course -- not to postgraduate degree course. [Para 17]
(3) Interpretation of Statute -- language of statute clear and unambiguous -- it has to be given effect to, irrespective of consequences. (1992) 4 SCC 711 followed. [Para 17]
(4) Chikitsa Shiksha Pravesh Niyam, 2018 (M.P.) -- Rr. 2 (s) and 14 -- Medical Council of India Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 -- Reg.9(4)- "in-service candidate" -- demonstrators and tutors working in cities/urban areas treated as "in-service candidates" -- neither relevant order, nor rule precludes medical officers working in urban areas or hospitals from benefit of being "in-service candidate" -- petitioners eligible despite being posted in towns (not covered under difficult, rural or remote areas) -- holding otherwise will divide homogeneous class of " in-service candidates" -- will create class within class without any rationale and justification. AIR 1955 SC 191, (2016) 10 SCC 165, (2018) 4 SCC 372, (2018) 6 SCC 1, CRPF (2018) 7 SCC 656, (2018) 10 SCC 1, 2018 (3) JLJ 209 (SC) and (2020) 7 SCC 657 followed. (2021) 6 SCC 568, W.P. (C) No. 7414 of 2020, AIR 2017 MP 142, W.P. No. 4316 of 2017, W.P. No. 4512 of 2017 and W.P. No. 4526 of 2017 referred to. [Para 18]
(5) Policy -- policy decision can be interfered with on limited grounds -- policy decision not challenged -- has to be read as such -- Court cannot re-write and insert something which is not there. 1913 AC 107 relied on. (1998) 4 SCC 117, (2001) 3 SCC 635, (2005) 13 SCC 495, (2008) 5 SCC 550, (2015) 9 SCC 657 and (2016) 6 SCC 408 referred to. [Para 19]
(6) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- scope of judicial review -- policy decision -- can be interfered with on limited grounds -- policy decision not challenged -- has to be read assuch -- Court cannot re-write and insert something which is not there. 1913 AC 107 relied on. (1998) 4 SCC 117, (2001) 3 SCC 635, (2005) 13 SCC 495, (2008) 5 SCC 550, (2015) 9 SCC 657 and (2016) 6 SCC 408 referred to. [Para 19]
(7) Medical Council of India Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 -- Reg.9(8) -- "difficult area" --does not include "difficult services." (1984) 1 SCC 222 and AIR 1998 SC 602 distinguished. [Para 22]
¼1½ fpfdRlk f'k{kk Áos'k fu;e] 2018 ¼eŒÁŒ½ & fu;e 2¼/k½ rFkk 14 & Hkkjrh; vk;qfoZKku ifj"kn~ LukrdksÙkj fpfdRlk f'k{kk fofu;e] 2000 & fofu;e 9¼4½ & ^^lsokjr vH;FkhZ** & uhfr fnukad 28-2-2019 esa lsokjr vH;fFkZ;ksa dks vfrfjDr vad@ÁksRlkgu dk mica/k & ljdkjh vkns'k fnukad 19-8-2021 }kjk LukrdksÙkj fMxzh ikB~;Øe esa Áos'k dk 30 Áfr'kr dh lhek rd vkj{k.k@i`Fkd ekxZ & ifjHkk"kk bruh foLr`r fd fpfdRlk vf/kdkjh lfEefyr & ;kphx.k ftyk fpfdRlky;ksa esa fpfdRlk vf/kdkfj;ksa ds :i esa dk;Zjr & mDr vkns'k rFkk fu;eksa esa ,slh dksbZ ck/kk ugha ftlls LukrdksRrj fMxzh ikB~;Øe esa Áos'k ds i`Fkd ekxZ ij fopkj fd, tkus ds vf/kdkj ls ;kphx.k oafpr gksa & LukrdksRrj fpfdRlk ikB~;Øeksa ds Á;kstukFkZ ;kphx.k ^^lsokjr vH;fFkZ;ksa** ds oxZ esa vkrs gSaA 2016 ¼2½ ts ,y ts 75 ¼mPpre U;k;ky;½ ¼1999½ 7 ,l lh lh 120 rFkk ¼2021½ 6 ,l lh lh 568 ÁHksfnrA ¼iSjk 16 ,oa 23½
¼2½ Hkkjrh; vk;qfoZKku ifj"kn~ LukrdksRrj fpfdRlk f'k{kk fofu;e] 2000 & fofu;e 9¼8½ & LukrdksRrj fMIyksek ikB~;Øe dks ykxw gksrk gS & LukrdksRrj fMxzh ikB~;Øe dks ughaA ¼iSjk 17½
¼3½ fof/k dk fuoZpu & dkuwu dh Hkk"kk Li"V rFkk vlafnX/k & mls] ifj.kkeksa ls fujis{k] ÁHkkoh fd;k tkuk vko';dA ¼1992½ 4 ,l lh lh 711 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 17½
¼4½ fpfdRlk f'k{kk Áos'k fu;e] 2018 ¼eŒÁŒ½ & fu;e 2¼/k½ rFkk 14 & Hkkjrh; vk;qfoZKku ifj"kn~ LukrdksRrj fpfdRlk f'k{kk fofu;e] 2000 & fofu;e 9¼4½ & ^^lsokjr vH;FkhZ** & 'kgjksa@uxjh; {ks=ksa esa dk;Zjr Án'kZdksa rFkk V~;wVjksa dks ^^lsokjr vH;FkhZ** ekuk tkrk gS & u rks lqlaxr vkns'k esa] u fu;eksa esa gh] uxjh; {ks=ksa ;k fpfdRlky;ksa esa dk;Zjr fpfdRlk vf/kdkjh ^^lsokjr vH;FkhZ** gksus ds Qk;ns ls fooftZr ugha & ¼dfBu] xzkeh.k ;k nwjLFk {ks=ksa esa ugha vkus okys½ 'kgjksa esa inLFk gksus ds ckotwn ;kphx.k ik= & vU;Fkk vfHkfu/kkZfjr djus ls ^^lsokjr vH;fFkZ;ksa** dh ltkrh; Js.kh foHkkftr gks tk,xh & fdlh rdkZ/kkj vkSj U;k;ksfpR; ds fcuk Js.kh ds Hkhrj Js.kh l`ftr gksxhA , vkb vkj 1955 ,l lh 191] ¼2016½ 10 ,l lh lh 165] ¼2018½ 4 ,l lh lh 372] ¼2018½ 6 ,l lh lh 1] ¼2018½ 7 ,l lh lh 656] ¼2018½ 4 ,l lh lh 372] ¼2018½ 6 ,l lh lh 1] ¼2018½ 7 ,l lh lh 656] 2018 ¼3½ ts ,y ts 209 ¼mPpre U;k;ky;½ rFkk ¼2020½ 7 ,l lh lh 657 vuqlfjrA ¼2021½ 6 ,l lh lh 568] fjV ;kfpdk ¼lfoy½ Øekad 7414 lu~ 2020] , vkb vkj 2017 ,e ih 142] fjV ;kfpdk Øekad 4316@2017] fjV ;kfpdk Øekad 4512 lu~ 2017 rFkk fjV ;kfpdk Øekad 4526 lu~ 2017 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 18½
¼5½ uhfr & uhfr fo"k;d fofu'p; esa gLr{ksi vk/kkjksa ij fd;k tk ldrk gS & uhfr fo"k;d fofu'p; vk{ksfir ugha ,sls gh iढk tkuk gksxk & U;k;ky; ,slk dqN iqfufyZf[kr vkSj var% LFkkfir ugha dj ldrk tks mlesa ughaA 1913 ,l lh 107 voyafcrA ¼1998½ 4 ,l lh lh 117] ¼2001½ 3 ,l lh lh 635] ¼2005½ 13 ,l lh lh 495] ¼2008½ 5 ,l lh lh 550] ¼2015½ 9 ,l lh lh 657 rFkk ¼2016½ 6 ,l lh lh 408 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 19½
¼6½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 226 & U;kf;d iqufoZyksdu dh O;kfIr & uhfr fo"k;d fofu'p; & lhfer vk/kkjksa ij gLr{ksi fd;k tk ldrk gS & uhfr fo"k;d fofu'p; vk{ksfir ugha & ,sls gh iढk tkuk gksxk & U;k;ky; ,slk dqN iqufyZf[kr vkSj var%LFkkfir ugha dj ldrk tks mlesa ughaA 1913 , lh 107 voyafcrA ¼1998½ 4 ,l lh lh 117] ¼2001½ 3 ,l lh lh 635] ¼2005½ 13 ,l lh lh 495] ¼2008½ 5 ,l lh lh 550] ¼2015½ 9 ,l lh lh 657 rFkk ¼2016½ 6 ,l lh lh 408 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 19½
¼7½ fpfdRlk f'k{kk Áos'k fu;e] 2018 ¼eŒÁŒ½ & fofu;e 9¼8½ & ^^dfBu {ks=** & ^^dfBu lsok** lfEEfyr ughaA ¼1984½ 1 ,l lh lh 222 rFkk , vkb vkj 1998 ,l lh 602 ÁHksfnrA ¼iSjk 22½
ORDER
Paul, J. -- 1. In this petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners have prayed for the following reliefs :-
(i) That this Hon’ble Court be pleased to issue any appropriate writ/order/direction declaring the Chart/List/Table uploaded on the official website of Respondent authorities on 12/13.11.2021 as contrary to its Department Order/ Circular dated 19.8.2021 and thus quash the same insofar is related to Medical Officers like the petitioners who are rendering services in the District Civil Hospitals of the State.
(ii) That this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to issue any appropriate writ/order/direction directing the respondent authorities, especially the DME and DHS, State of Madhya Pradesh, for suitably revising the impugned Chart/Table/ List for including the name of petitioners and Medical Officers serving in the District Government Hospitals of the State amongst those entitled for benefit of 30% reservation meant for in-service candidates as per the Government Circular dated 19.8.2021 issued by the State of Madhya Pradesh.
(iii) That this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to issue any appropriate writ/order/direction declaring and holding that the petitioners are entitled for 10% additional marks by treating their place of posting in the last one and a half year (Harda Civil Hospital in the case of petitioner No. 1 and CHC, Mangilal Churiya, District Indore in case of petitioner No. 2) as a ‘difficult area’ in terms of Regulation 9, (IV, VII) of the MCI PG Regulations 2000 and accordingly the petitioners be held entitled for 10% additional marks for the same.
(iv) That this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to issue any appropriate Writ/Order/ Direction directing the respondent State of Madhya Pradesh for suitably modifying the Public Notice dated 28.3.2019 governing the grant of additional 10% marks to in -service doctors, who have served in Covid -19 affected districts, especially districts like Harda and Indore, during the covid-19 pandemic, by incorporating a provision for grant of 10% additional marks for all those Medical Officers (MO) who have served in the COVID -19 affected hospitals or Health Care Centres and accordingly by pleased to direct for revision of the impugned List/Table/Chart, dated 12/13.11.2021.
(v) Any other relief which this Hon’ble Court deems just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may also kindly be granted to the petitioners.
2. The interesting conundrum in this case is whether the petitioners MBBS qualified Doctors rendering their services as regular employees in the Department of Health Services, State of M.P. fall in the category of ‘in service candidates’ and whether they have separate channel of entry in P.G. Course as per order dated 19.8.2021 issued by the State Government.
3. The admitted facts between the parties are that the petitioners are working as regular employees and are qualified MBBS Doctors. The points on which the parties are at loggerheads are :-
(a) Whether ‘in-service candidates’ includes present petitioners, who are presently posted in District Hospital, Harda and Indore respectively ?
(b) Whether the petitioners are entitled to get incentive of marks as per circular/order dated 28.3.2019 ?
4. S hri Siddharth Gupta, learned counsel for the petitioners by taking this Court to the Government order dated 19.8.2021 submits that the reservation/separate channel of entry to the extent of 30% in P.G. Degree Course is made by this order. The order covers Demonstrator, Tutors and the Medical Officers, the category to which present petitioners belong. The Government has framed rules namely M.P. Chikitsa Shikisha Pravesh Niyam 2018, (in short, ‘Admission Rules’). As per these statutory rules, published in the official gazette dated 9th March 2018, the petitioners are covered in the definition of “serving employees”, as per Rule 2(k).
5. The said admission rules were further amended by notification dated 5th October 202
State regulations regarding post-graduate medical course admissions supersede national standards, and weightage for rural service is not a statutory right.
The policy of providing incentive marks to the in-service candidates and adding the incentive marks for competing with the open category candidates is not barred by any statute, Rules or Regulations.
The court affirmed the necessity of extending admission incentives to all in-service medical professionals, not just specific categories, upholding public interest and compliance with MCI regulations....
The State cannot issue a notification identifying remote and/or difficult areas for the purpose of granting incentives to in-service candidates for admission to Post Graduate Medical/ Dental Courses ....
The Government Resolution dated 26 September 2022 providing for a reservation of 20% for in-service candidates was held to be applicable for the current academic year and in consonance with the broch....
Merit must prevail in admission to postgraduate medical courses; state can implement service quotas, but must not dilute merit standards.
Subsequent policy detrimental to the interest of beneficiaries cannot be given retrospective effect.
The court upheld the constitutional validity of Rule 1.20(9) and declared Rule 1.8(2) as ultra vires for being violative of Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 and counter to the decisi....
An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers
Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance
Scan Me!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :
Back to top
