- Bookmark
- Share
- CaseIQ
Purswani Ashutosh Petitioner(S) v. Union Of India (S).
Factual and Procedural Background
The petitioners, who fall within the disabled category, seek admission to the MBBS course under the provisions of the Disabilities Act and the Medical Council of India (MCI) Regulations, 2018. A nine-member committee constituted by the MCI submitted a report to the Central Government recommending which disabilities are suitable for MBBS admission. Because the petitioners’ disabilities were not included in that committee’s recommendations, they were deemed ineligible. The report is still awaiting a final decision by the Central Government. The present order addresses the urgency of resolving this issue during the ongoing admission cycle.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the petitioners, as persons with disabilities, are entitled to admission to the MBBS course under the Disabilities Act and the 2018 MCI Regulations.
- Whether the Central Government must promptly decide on the recommendations of the MCI committee regarding categories of disabilities suitable for MBBS admission.
Arguments of the Parties
The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the parties' legal arguments.
Table of Precedents Cited
No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court noted that the petitioners prima facie satisfy the definition of disability under the Disabilities Act and, under the 2018 MCI Regulations, would ordinarily be eligible for MBBS admission. However, their eligibility has been questioned due to the MCI committee’s report, which excludes their specific disabilities. Recognising the time-sensitive nature of medical admissions, the Court emphasised the urgency of governmental action. It directed the Central Government to expeditiously consider the committee’s recommendations and decide—within ten days—whether to adopt or reject them. The Court also allowed all stakeholders, including the petitioners, to make representations to the Central Government before that decision is taken.
Holding and Implications
DIRECTIONS ISSUED: The Central Government must decide within ten days on the MCI committee’s report concerning disability categories for MBBS admission and inform the Court of its decision. The matter is listed for further hearing on 21 August 2018.
Implications: The immediate effect is to compel the Government to act swiftly so that eligible disabled candidates are not denied admission due to administrative delay. The order does not set a new legal precedent but underscores the urgency of decision-making in matters affecting persons with disabilities.
1. The petitioners are persons of disabled category. Prima facie it appears that they qualify as per the Disabilities Act as a disabled person to seek the benefit. Even as per the MCI Regulations framed in the year, 2018, they are entitled to be admitted in the MBBS Course under disabled category. However, MCI has constituted a Committee of nine experts which included the experts of various fields. The Committee has submitted a report to the Government of India indicating the categories of disabilities suitable for the admission in the MBBS Course; due to that the petitioners have not been found eligible for admission to MBBS Course. However, the report of Committee, as conceded at Bar, is pending consideration before the Central Government. In our opinion, it is an urgent matter and relates to on-going admissions, Government has to consider the report of the MCI as expeditiously as possible and to decide whether the Central Government is inclined to go by the schedule that has been incorporated in the Act and whether it intends to accept the report of the Committee formed by the MCI or not.
2. It is open to stakeholders for disabled categories including the petitioners to submit a representation to Central Government.
3. Let call be taken expeditiously as the persons with disabilities may suffer due to lapse of time. As such let the Central Government decide this issue within ten days from today and its decision be informed to this court on the next date of hearing.
4. List on 21 August, 2018.
Alert