The All India Federation of Other Backward Classes Employees’ Welfare Association has written to Health and Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan demanding to know why the All India Quota in medical seats for OBCs has not yet been implemented. The Association pointed out that the Madras High Court had directed to sort out the matter within 90 days which ended on October 26.
“We are yet to know the outcome of the recommendations of the five-member committee headed by Dr BD Athani, Director, DGHS constituted by the Health Ministry as per orders of Madras High Court. In the recent hearing conducted by National Commission for Backward Classes on October 8 with the Secretary, Health Ministry and Director, DGHS, it was assured by Secretary, MoH&FW that on receipt of a report from the Committee AIOBC, the OBC reservation issue will be resolved. The Director, DGHS was also present in the meeting,” the Association wrote in its letter.
The Association quotes the High Court judgement in their letter, 'We direct the Union of India through the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to convene a meeting along with the Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Secretaries of the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India in order to finalise the manner in which the facilities of OBC reservation are to be provided for against All India Quota seats in the UG/PG courses with effect from the next academic year as already proposed by the Central Government and discussed hereinabove'.
“Despite orders of Court and assurances of the Centre, it is really shocking that the Director, DGHS who himself is the head of the five -member Committee, has proceeded with conducting the NEET MDS 2021 without reservation for OBC candidates. We also understand that contempt of court notice has been issued by DMK to the Union Health Ministry and National Medical Commission for failing to implement the order of the Madras High Court that directed the Central Government to sort out the OBC reservation issue within three months,” the Association wrote.
OBC students of this country have lost during the current academic year 2020-21 alone, nearly 3758 PG/UG seats under AIQ and in the past also, have lost thousands of PG/UG seats in AIQ every year due to the denial of OBC reservation, the Association’s General Secretary G Karunanidhy said.
“There shall be a reservation of 15 percent for the candidates of the Scheduled Castes, 7.5 per cent for the candidates of the Scheduled Tribes and 27 per cent for the candidates of the Other Backward Classes as per statutory provisions and applicable rules,” they reiterated.
