NCP wants 85 per cent medical seats reserved for locals

The NCP on Saturday appealed to private medical colleges under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, and medical colleges under the aegis of deemed universities in the state to allot 85 per cent of their seats on merit to students from the state board.

This will apply to the NEET merit list for students who have cleared their Class 10 and 12 board examinations from the Maharashtra state board.

A statement issued by the party said distressed parents of medical aspirants, who are aggrieved over the admissions procedure and uncertainty met party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday. They have sought his intervention in the matter.

In its statement, the NCP said, “As suggested by Sharad Pawar, we have decided to appeal to private medical colleges to consider the legitimate interest of local meritorious students while abiding by the judgment of the Supreme Court,”

Currently, there is no uniform policy to determine the eligibility criteria for admissions to private colleges.

The state government on its own accord determines the percentage of seats that can be allotted to students from the state.

Meanwhile, in the case of medical entrance of Abhimat university, the Supreme Court has issued a stay order on the earlier decision of the high court. Minister of Medical Education Girish Mahajan confirmed that the final hearing would take place on September 19. Approximately, 2,500 students take the medical entrance exams of Abhimat university, which has eight branches across Maharashtra. However, concerned parents had alleged that the entrance exam lacked transparency. As there was no bar on the basis of merit, several students from other states were also taking the examination in large numbers.

The parents urged that all admissions should happen on the basis of merit. The university then moved the court.

However, the government then moved the Supreme Court to secure a stay order on the high court decision.