Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 9: Doctors and students from Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar staged a protest on Monday, expressing deep concerns over the sharp decline in the open merit quota for NEET PG (MD/MS) admissions. The protesters called for the implementation of SRO 49, the revocation of Rule 17, and immediate intervention from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakina Itoo.
The protesting doctors, said that open merit seats had dropped drastically from 75% in 2019 to just 38.5% in 2024, leaving only a fraction available for merit-based candidates after the All-India Quota claims 50% of seats.
The protesters questioned the rationale behind the excessive reservation, particularly in specialised branches. Such practices hinder the production of competent doctors and undermine the overall healthcare system, they said.
“During MBBS, all students study in the same college, availing the same resources, faculty, and facilities. So, on what basis should there be such extensive reservations in speciality courses like NEET PG?” one protesting doctor said.
The doctors said that specialised branches require a high level of competence determined purely by merit. They said that excessive reservation compromises this standard, jeopardising the quality of healthcare.
The protesters took aim at Rule 17 of the J&K Reservation Rules (2004-2005), calling it a “double-edged sword” that unfairly disadvantages open merit candidates.
“Under this rule, if a reserved category student secures a seat in PG through open merit and later upgrades to a higher speciality in their reserved category, the vacated seat does not go back to open merit—it goes to another reserved category candidate. This creates an undue advantage for reserved candidates,” they said.
The doctors warned that excessive reservation is already eroding healthcare standards in the region. “Undeserving candidates are securing MBBS and MD/MS seats, becoming consultants, and even receiving out-of-turn promotions due to the reservation system. This directly impacts the quality of care and tarnishes the legacy of medical institutions,” they said.
“Healthcare should not be compromised. Competent doctors should occupy leadership positions. However, when reservation-based selections result in underqualified individuals becoming professors or consultants, the sector suffers long-term damage,” they added.
The doctors said that candidates who secure undergraduate (UG) seats through reservation but fail to secure postgraduate (PG) seats in open merit should serve as medical officers in underserved areas based on their reservation benefits.
Calling for a review of the reservation policy, they said that only genuinely deserving candidates should benefit from such schemes.
The medical professionals have appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakina Itoo to address their grievances urgently and implement reforms to restore fairness and meritocracy in medical admissions.
“The government must act before the healthcare system deteriorates further. Our demands are not just for ourselves but for the betterment of the health sector and the future of medical education,” the protesters said.
