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Neetu Saini Vs State of Punjab and Others

Case No: Civil Writ Petition No. 19481 of 2010

Date of Decision: Oct. 29, 2010

Acts Referred: Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 226

Hon'ble Judges: Ranjit Singh, J

Bench: Single Bench

Final Decision: Dismissed

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Judgement

Ranjit Singh, J.@mdashThe Petitioner appeared in the P.M.E.T. 2010 Examination for admission to M.B.B.S/B.D.S Courses. The examinations

was held on the basis of prospectus issued by Respondent No. 2. The Petitioner secured 462 marks and was placed at merit No. 265. The

Petitioner claims that she was sure to get admission at Government Medical College, Amritsar. The schedule for counselling for admission to

various Medical Colleges was issued in July 2010. While the process was on, Respondent No. 2 issued a notice on 2.8.2010, permitting the

physically handicapped category candidates to apply fresh even if they had not fulfilled the eligibility condition of not less than securing 50% marks

in the qualifying examination. As per the notice, eligibility condition for cut off marks in the qualifying examination was relaxed from 50% to 45%.

Due to the relaxed eligibility condition, Respondent No. 4, who had secured 46% marks in the qualifying examination, thus, was held eligible for

admission and accordingly was admitted in Medical College, Amritsar because of this changed condition. This led to affecting the rights of the

Petitioner to get admission at Medical College, Amritsar, and hence, the Petitioner has filed the present petition to challenge the relaxation done

after having invited the applications, terming it to be illegal, arbitrary and unfair.

2. The primary objection of the Petitioner appears to be that the condition could not have been relaxed midway during the counselling and that too

after issuance of the prospectus, on the basis of which the tests were held. The Petitioner has been admitted to Shri Guru Ram Dass Institute,

Amritsar but still has come up with the grievance only to say that her chance to get admission in Medical College, Amritsar, has been put to

prejudice. The Petitioner has not demonstrated in any manner as to how the relaxation in the cut off marks for considering the eligibility for

physically handicapped candidates has effected the chances of the Petitioner to get admission in the Medical College, Amritsar. The reservation for

the physically handicapped candidates is required to be made as per the statute and as such, can not be termed as illegal or arbitrary. In order to

achieve this statutory purpose, if some relaxation is granted to make some physically handicapped candidates eligible, it would not lead to any

arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair action. Respondent No. 4 has been admitted to a medical course and this relaxation appears to have been made

to achieve the statutory object of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The

requirement of statute can not be allowed to become redundant by providing same standard of eligibility for a physically handicapped candidate,

who would definitely be at disadvantage as compared to those candidates who does not suffer such handicap. I can not notice any illegality or

arbitrariness in the action of the Respondents in relaxing the eligibility condition, since it was with the aim and purpose of achieving the purpose

behind the abovesaid Act. It may also need a notice that any interference in this would lead to ousting the physically handicapped candidates, who

have been admitted due to the relaxed eligibility condition, which rather may not sound fair. Incidentally, the Petitioner is only seeking a change of

his College for the purpose of admission. Accordingly, I do not consider this case to be fit for invoking extra ordinary jurisdiction under Article 226

of the Constitution of India.

3. The writ petition is, therefore, dismissed in limine.