The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a response of the Centre and Delhi government on a plea by some doctors from reserved category opposing a notification which has included Jats in other backward classes (OBC).
A bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul also issued notices to and sought responses of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Delhi University and National Board of Examinations.
The doctors, who also fall under OBC category, sought orders restraining the varsity from “considering the ''Jat'' caste/community candidates as OBCs and giving them benefit under the 27 per cent OBC reserved seats” during counselling and admission to PG medical courses, at least for the current academic session.
They said the counselling and admission process should proceed as per the position existing prior to the March 4, 2014 notification of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.
The court, however, declined to grant the interim relief of staying the counselling and admission process, saying the last date for candidates, who cleared the All-India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (AIPGMEE), to apply for a particular medical discipline was March 20.
During the proceedings, Delhi University told the court that the cut-off date to apply for a course was March 20 and counselling and admission process is to take place on March 25 and 26.
In their petition, filed through advocate Shuvodeep Roy, the doctors have contended NBCC had advised the government to reject the proposal for inclusion of ''Jats'' in the central list of backward classes for NCT of Delhi and such an advice is binding.
They have alleged that "in going ahead with the inclusion of ''Jat'' caste in central ist of OBCs, the central government has been actuated by extraneous considerations and political pulls and pressures".
The petitioners are qualified MBBS doctors, graduated from medical colleges affiliated to Delhi University, have cleared the AIPGMEE and are aspiring for admission into PG medical courses in various disciplines in various institutions under the quota for OBC category for academic session 2014-15.
They have argued since ''Jats'' applied and appeared in the AIPGMEE under the general category, their status cannot be changed at such a late stage.
They have also contended DU had on February 25 released a tentative category-wise list of successful candidates for being admitted to various PG degree and diploma medical courses and as per this list, ''Jats'' fell under general category.
But after the notification, another list was released as per which ''Jats'' were included in OBC category.
According to the petition, subsequent to the new list, the petitioners rankings changed and their chances of getting the courses they want have decreased.
They have sought quashing of the Centre's notification as well as any decision taken by Delhi university on the basis of it.
A bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul also issued notices to and sought responses of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Delhi University and National Board of Examinations.
The doctors, who also fall under OBC category, sought orders restraining the varsity from “considering the ''Jat'' caste/community candidates as OBCs and giving them benefit under the 27 per cent OBC reserved seats” during counselling and admission to PG medical courses, at least for the current academic session.
They said the counselling and admission process should proceed as per the position existing prior to the March 4, 2014 notification of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.
The court, however, declined to grant the interim relief of staying the counselling and admission process, saying the last date for candidates, who cleared the All-India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (AIPGMEE), to apply for a particular medical discipline was March 20.
During the proceedings, Delhi University told the court that the cut-off date to apply for a course was March 20 and counselling and admission process is to take place on March 25 and 26.
In their petition, filed through advocate Shuvodeep Roy, the doctors have contended NBCC had advised the government to reject the proposal for inclusion of ''Jats'' in the central list of backward classes for NCT of Delhi and such an advice is binding.
They have alleged that "in going ahead with the inclusion of ''Jat'' caste in central ist of OBCs, the central government has been actuated by extraneous considerations and political pulls and pressures".
The petitioners are qualified MBBS doctors, graduated from medical colleges affiliated to Delhi University, have cleared the AIPGMEE and are aspiring for admission into PG medical courses in various disciplines in various institutions under the quota for OBC category for academic session 2014-15.
They have argued since ''Jats'' applied and appeared in the AIPGMEE under the general category, their status cannot be changed at such a late stage.
They have also contended DU had on February 25 released a tentative category-wise list of successful candidates for being admitted to various PG degree and diploma medical courses and as per this list, ''Jats'' fell under general category.
But after the notification, another list was released as per which ''Jats'' were included in OBC category.
According to the petition, subsequent to the new list, the petitioners rankings changed and their chances of getting the courses they want have decreased.
They have sought quashing of the Centre's notification as well as any decision taken by Delhi university on the basis of it.