Latest news with #EWS
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra revokes decision on EWS quota in pvt medical colleges
In another rollback by the Maharashtra government, the medical education department on Wednesday withdrew its decision to implement the 10 per cent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in private medical colleges. The government stated that the reservation will only be applicable if the Central Government or respective Council increases the number of seats to compensate for the reservation impact on other category seats. The decision comes just a month after the state government revoked the three-language policy on June 29, following a major uproar. The order issued by the state's medical education department on Wednesday, with regards to EWS reservation clause in the information brochure of the state medical admission, stated, 'For MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BHMS and BUMS courses, this reservation will be applicable only if Central Government / respective council increased existing seats. For courses other than MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BHMS and BUMS courses, 10% EWS reservation will be applicable on available seats.' Principal secretary of medical education department, Dheeraj Kumar, said, 'After careful examination and various court orders, including those of Supreme Court and High Court, we have modified provisions as per last year.' This comes as a big relief to medical aspirants in the state and their parents who along with private medical colleges were up in arms against the implementation of 10 per cent EWS quota in private medical colleges, which came to light with release of the information brochure on July 23. According to them this was going to result in a drastic reduction in the number of seats which are under general merit, causing steep increase in cut-off marks for admission on those seats. It was highlighted by parents as well as colleges that it was unfair of state to implement 10 per cent EWS quota in private medical colleges without allowing proportionate boost in the total intake, a one time-measure followed by the central government when EWS reservation was applied in government medical colleges (GMCs). While the Association of Private Medical Colleges wrote to state against the reservation, several candidates and parents not only sent multiple letters requesting to withdraw the decision but also met with the state's medical education minister Hasan Mushrif on Tuesday, with their concerns. Welcoming the move, a parent representative, Sudha Shenoy said, 'The minister as well as principal secretary of the department not only gave us a patient hearing, the issue was resolved promptly within just a day after we presented our concerns.' Another parent representative, Brijesh Sutaria, said, 'It is now clear that the Government of Maharashtra will not implement EWS reservation in private medical colleges unless seat capacity is increased, a move that aligns with the Central Government's original 2019 approach. This step protects merit-based access while preserving the intent of social justice.'
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi govt gets 3 months to decide if SC order covers Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave three months' time to Delhi govt to decide if a 2018 landmark Supreme Court verdict applies to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital. The apex court had ruled that private hospitals in the city, allotted land at subsidised rates, could not do away with the mandatory requirement of providing free treatment to 25% OPD and 10% IPD patients from the economically weaker section (EWS) category. A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedella asked the govt to take a call on the issue after it transpired that soon after the verdict, the authorities concerned wrote to the hospital asking it to reserve beds for EWS patients. However, the hospital wrote back that it wasn't covered by the SC ruling as it was not similarly placed as other private hospitals. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi To be sure, the hospital informed the high court on Wednesday that since March 1, 2023, it had extended free treatment to 25% OPD and 10% IPD patients from the EWS category. The high court was hearing a petition seeking action against the cancer hospital for not providing free treatment as per the mandate issued by Supreme Court against hospitals allotted land by the govt at subsidised rates, which must provide free treatment to EWS category patients. The hospital, in Feb 2023, on a separate public interest litigation, had assured the court that it would provide free treatment to EWS patients, leading the court to dispose of the plea. The petitioner alleged that the hospital had made unwarranted profits during the last two decades by not providing all free treatment to EWS patients and was, therefore, liable to make good to society by paying such an amount of unwarranted profit to the govt. While the plea alleged that the hospital violated the high court's 2007 order and the apex court's July 9, 2018 verdict, the hospital argued it was not covered by the verdict. In the 2007 judgement, the high court first directed that all the 20 hospitals, which were party to the matter, and other identically situated hospitals would have to strictly comply with the terms of free patient treatment to indigent/poor patients.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
State govt does U-turn on 10% EWS quota in pvt medical colleges
Mumbai: The state govt on Wednesday withdrew the 10% reservation it had introduced for economically weaker sections (EWS) in private medical colleges without increasing seats. The decision comes exactly a week after it was introduced. The quota appeared almost overnight in the folds of a brochure released just before the medical admission process kicked off. It was the first time such a move was made in private institutions, and it sent ripples among aspirants, their parents and colleges. A govt resolution released Wednesday clarified: "10% of the available seats will be reserved for EWS candidates. For MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BHMS and BUMS courses, this reservation will apply only if the central govt or respective councils increase existing seats. For all other courses, the reservation will apply to available seats." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai For many, the reversal on the EWS quota in private medical colleges came as a relief. "It's a positive decision," said parent representative Sudha Shenoy. "We appreciate this quick turnaround in the interest of all medical students." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Singapore's Hip New Dining and Drinking Spots Epicure Asia Read More Undo The pivot followed a wave of concern raised just a day earlier, when parents and students met with medical education minister Hasan Mushrif and secretary Dheeraj Kumar. They flagged their concern that the EWS quota, in its current form, would cannibalise existing reservations. Postgraduate aspirants warned that if extended to their level, it could shrink the general category to a meagre 5% of seats. "This decision brings clarity," said parent activist Brijesh Sutaria. "It aligns with the central govt's original 2019 framework—no reservation without expanding capacity. It preserves the integrity of merit while staying true to the principle of inclusion. Other states would do well to take note." Until late Tuesday evening, parents shared legal precedents with govt officials, drawing from the events of 2019. Back then, when the EWS quota was first proposed for govt medical colleges, it met with resistance— until courts ruled that such a move must be accompanied by a proportional increase in seats. Eventually, a 25% increase in capacity paved the way for its rollout—first at the undergraduate level in June 2019, then at the postgraduate level a year later. Under current rules, EWS students receive 10% reservation in govt colleges. In private institutions, they're eligible for fee waivers—50% for boys and 100% for girls.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Govt scraps EWS quota in private medical colleges
MUMBAI: The state government has scrapped the contentious EWS quota in private medical colleges, after fierce opposition from parents who refused to back down. The 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) was introduced in undergraduate courses, in the general category, without a corresponding increase in the number of seats. This would shrink the number of seats available on merit, currently just 3,500. (Representative Image) The state government has scrapped the contentious EWS quota in private medical colleges, after fierce opposition from parents who refused to back down. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Satish Bate/HT PHOTO) The quota was introduced with no formal announcement; it was merely mentioned in the admission brochure released by the state Common Entrance Test (CET) cell before admissions began recently, a rude shock to parents and students alike. Parents had sent emails to state medical education minister Hasan Mushrif, and then, along with education activists, met Mushrif on Tuesday to protest the implementation of the reservation. On Wednesday, the state medical education department walked back the decision to implement the quota. It said the EWS reservation would not be implemented in private medical colleges unless seat capacity increased, a move that aligns with the central government's original 2019 approach. Activist Sudha Shenoy, part of the delegation who met the minister, said, 'It is now clear that the government is not applying EWS reservation in private medical colleges unless seats increase as per the Supreme Court order.' Another activist, Brijesh Sutaria, said, 'This is a welcome decision. It protects merit-based access while preserving the intent of social justice. It is a balanced and constitutionally sound approach that other states should also consider.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Parents protest EWS quota in private medical colleges, seek seat hike
MUMBAI: Concerned over the shrinking share of seats available to general category students, a group of parents of medical aspirants and education activists met state medical education minister Hasan Mushrif on Tuesday to protest the implementation of a 10% reservation under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in private medical colleges. Parents protest EWS quota in private medical colleges, seek seat hike Activist Sudha Shenoy, who was part of the delegation, said, 'We urged the government to intervene and provide relief to students. If the quota is enforced without increasing the number of seats, only 5% will remain for general category students.' Following the meeting, Mushrif directed the group to hold further discussions with principal secretary Dheeraj Kumar. Around 25 parents met with Kumar the same day to press their demand: that the EWS quota should not be implemented unless the seat count is proportionally increased. 'This year, the CET admission brochure was the first place we noticed the 10% EWS quota mentioned,' said one parent. 'There was no prior government resolution or public notification. It took us by surprise.' The state is implementing the EWS quota in private medical colleges for the first time this year. Parents and activists argue that doing so without expanding the total intake severely impacts general category aspirants, many of whom already face stiff competition and limited options. Shenoy said the community is hopeful the state will take corrective steps. 'Every year there's some new hurdle for students,' she said. 'But if this issue isn't addressed urgently, parents are prepared to move court.' Responding to the concerns, Kumar said, 'We had a meeting with the parents and understand their concerns. After reviewing the facts, we will issue further communication soon.'
