In a significant judgment, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed YSR University of Health Sciences to pay ₹7 lakh in damages to a medical aspirant who was unjustly denied an MBBS seat due to the University's improper allotment process. The court also imposed an additional ₹25,000 as litigation costs, emphasizing the gravity of the University's oversight.
The petitioner, a meritorious candidate from SPSR Nellore District, had appeared for NEET (UG) 2022 and applied for admission under the NCC Female Open Category. This category reserved one seat each at Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Narayana Medical College, and Padmavathi Medical College. Despite her superior ranking in both NEET and NCC credentials, the seat at Narayana Medical College was allotted to another candidate, identified as the fourth respondent, who had a lower merit rank. This prompted the petitioner to challenge the University's decision, alleging a breach of the merit-based selection process.
In its defense, YSR University contended that the seat allocation was a consequence of a series of counseling rounds. Initially, a candidate named Jakkala Jahnavi was allotted a seat at Narayana Medical College under the NCC category. Subsequently, Jahnavi secured admission at Sri Venkateswara Medical College through category-based sliding. The University argued that the vacated seat at Narayana Medical College was then allotted to the fourth respondent, who belonged to the BC-D category, in adherence to the guidelines stipulated in G.O.Rt.No.159 (Higher Education Department), dated 13.11.2020.
However, the High Court found discrepancies in the University's claims. Despite multiple directives, the University failed to produce documentary evidence confirming that Jahnavi was ever allotted a seat at Narayana Medical College before transferring to Sri Venkateswara Medical College. The absence of such crucial documentation led the court to question the legitimacy of the subsequent allotment to the fourth respondent. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Raghunandan Rao, observed that without concrete proof of Jahnavi's initial allotment and subsequent transfer, the University's justification for reallocating the seat lacked credibility.
The court further noted that the petitioner had, in the interim, enrolled in a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course, effectively forfeiting her opportunity to pursue a career in medicine. Recognizing the irreversible impact of the University's actions on the petitioner's professional aspirations, the High Court deemed financial compensation as the appropriate remedy. The judgment underscored that while the petitioner was entitled to an MBBS seat commencing in 2022, the passage of two academic years rendered such accommodation unfeasible. Consequently, the court awarded ₹7 lakh in damages to the petitioner and mandated that the University remit this amount within two months from the date of the order. Additionally, the University was instructed to pay ₹25,000 towards litigation costs within two weeks.
This ruling serves as a stern reminder to educational institutions about the paramount importance of adhering to transparent and merit-based admission processes. The High Court's decision not only rectifies the injustice faced by the petitioner but also sets a precedent emphasizing accountability in academic admissions. Institutions are thereby cautioned against administrative lapses that can severely impact the careers of deserving candidates.
0 Comments
Thank you for your response. It will help us to improve in the future.