Nongrum questions applicability of state reservation policy to academics

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 27, 2023

Opposition VPP legislator from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum on Thursday questioned how the provisions of the state reservation policy can be made applicable for academic purposes.

In a statement, Nongrum said as per information, the list of candidates for admission into MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BASLP, BUMS & B.Sc Nursing courses against state quota seats for academic session 2023-24 has been drawn up and circulated.

The names of candidates are in three lists – open category, Khasi-Jaintia category, and Garo category, and are placed in order of their NEET UG 2023 score which is indicated alongside. Open list has 30 names, Khasi-Jaintia list has 150 names, and Garo list 150 names.

“The first question I have is how is this Quota being made on the same lines as the Roster System, when we know very well that the Roster System does not apply to academics and the same has been stated to the press even by the Chief Minister,” Nongrum said.

He further said that there was an office memorandum (OM) dated May 13, 2022 issued by the health and family welfare department which notified the methodology for selection of candidates for MBBS seats allotted to the state of Meghalaya.

“This OM lays down that “seats will be equitably allocated to each category as per category rank”, and that “the state reservation policy will be strictly adhered to”,” he said while asking under what Act or Rule has the methodology for selection of candidates been made by executive order when there is clearly no such enabling provision of law existing in the state.

“And lastly, this is something I have been saying time and again, how the State Reservation Policy can be made applicable to students when it is only a job reservation policy,” he said.