DR. SADHNA DEVI AND ORS. versus STATE OF U.P. AND ORS.

DR. SADHNA DEVI AND ORS. versus STATE OF U.P. AND ORS.

State Governments, after prescribing minimum qualifying marks for entrance tests to postgraduate medical courses, cannot do away with this requirement for SC/ST/OBC candidates; reserved category candidates must meet minimum marks required in the test, and if not, unfilled reserved seats go to general category...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Petitioner: Dr. Sadhna Devi and Ors.; Respondent: State of U.P. and Ors.
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
19 February 1997
Procedural Posture
Writ Petition (c) No. 679 of 1995 (under Article 32 of the Constitution of India) / Final Judgment on the Merits
Outcome
Writ petition allowed; State Government circular/letter dispensing with minimum qualifying entrance marks for SC/ST/OBC quashed.
Legal Topics
Reservation in Education, Minimum Qualifying Marks, Affirmative Action, Medical Education Admission, Equality Before Law
Constitutional Law Education Law Administrative Law Reservation in Education Minimum Qualifying Marks Affirmative Action Medical Education Admission Equality Before Law

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Parties

Dr. Sadhna Devi and Ors.

Petitioner

State of U.P. and Ors.

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Writ Petition (c) No. 679 of 1995 (under Article 32 of the Constitution of India) / Final Judgment on the Merits

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the State Government can cancel the requirement of minimum qualifying marks in entrance tests for reserved category candidates for postgraduate medical courses.
  2. 2 Whether such cancellation violates the norms set by Indian Medical Council Act and Constitution of India.

Ratio Decidendi

State Governments, after prescribing minimum qualifying marks for entrance tests to postgraduate medical courses, cannot do away with this requirement for SC/ST/OBC candidates; reserved category candidates must meet minimum marks required in the test, and if not, unfilled reserved seats go to general category candidates to preserve merit and educational standards.

Court Disposition

Writ petition allowed; State Government circular/letter dispensing with minimum qualifying entrance marks for SC/ST/OBC quashed.

Orders

  • The decision in the letter dated 31.8.1995 by Principal Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Government, dispensing with minimum marks for SC/ST/OBC admissions to PG/diploma courses, is quashed.
  • If reserved seats cannot be filled by SC/ST/OBC candidates meeting minimum qualifying marks, such seats should be made available to general category candidates.