Holding

The State may exercise its constitutional power to make reservations under Article 15(4), but it cannot dilute the academic standard of 50% minimum qualifying marks prescribed by the Medical Council of India; therefore the 40% mark provision is invalid.

Summary

The State of Punjab issued a notification reserving 60% of postgraduate medical seats for in‑service candidates and 40% for general candidates, and lowered the minimum qualifying mark in the entrance test from the 50% prescribed by Regulation 9 of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to 40%. The Punjab High Court struck down the notification on both grounds. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the State could, under Article 15(4) of the Constitution, make reservations for socially and educationally backward classes, and whether it could alter the minimum qualifying marks fixed by the Medical Council of India. The Court held that the State’s power to make reservations under Article 15(4) is constitutional, but the power to set academic standards, including the 50% minimum mark, rests with the Medical Council of India. Consequently, the portion of the notification reducing the qualifying mark to 40% was declared invalid, while the reservation provision was upheld. The appeals were allowed, setting aside the High Court’s order on reservation and confirming the invalidity of the lowered mark provision.

Issues considered

Whether the State's notification lowering the minimum qualifying marks to 40% violates Regulation 9 of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 framed by the Medical Council of India.
Whether the State can make reservations for socially and educationally backward classes in postgraduate medical courses under Article 15(4) of the Constitution.
Whether the State may prescribe lower qualifying marks for reserved‑category candidates and the permissible extent of such reservation.

Legislation cited

Indian Medical Council Act, 1956

Subjects

ReservationArticle 15(4)Postgraduate medical educationMinimum qualifying marksMedical Council of IndiaRegulation 9Constitution of IndiaState power

Judgment

A STATE OF PUNJAB
v.
DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL AND ORS.

OCTOBER 11, 2001

B [S. RAJENDRA BABU AND DORAISWAMY RAJU, JJ.]

Constifution of India, 1950 :

Article 15(4)-Medical Education-Postgraduate Medical Courses-
C Socially and Educationally Backward Classes-Reservation for-Held : State
has the power to make such reservation-Medical Council ofIndia is not suited
to make such reservation-However, (f such reservation is to such an enonnous
extent as to reduce the general candidates to a very small number then Medical
Council of India may stipulate spec(fic standards for such reseroed category
D candidates also and not otherwise.

Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 :

Medical Education-Postgraduate Medical Courses-Reservation-
Govemment Notification reserved 60% seats for in-service candidates and
E 40% for genera.I candidates-Validity of-Held: Government has the power
to make such reservations-Hence, notification valid.

Medical Education-Postgraduate Medical Courses-Entrance Testfor-
Minimum marks-Fixation of-Govemment Notification prescribed 40%
minimum qualifying marks-No minimum standard .fzxed for certain basic
F
subjects-Validity of-Held: It is not open to the University or the Government
to lower the minimum qualifying marks to less than 50% fixed under
Regulation 9-0nly the Medical Council of India is competent to prescribe
standards for postgraduate studies-Hence, notification invalid.

G The appellant-State issued a notification regarding admission to
postgraduate medical courses in the State. 60 % of the seats in such courses
were reserved for eligible candidates in Service, while 40 % of the seats
were kept open to all eligible candidates who were residents of the State.
The notification also prescribed a minimum of 40 % marks in the
postgraduate Entrance Test and for certain basic subjects like Anatomy,
H I
. 72
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL 73
Physiology and Pharmacology there was no such condition. A
The High Court quashed the notification on the grounds that the
appellant State lowered the qualifying marks to less than 50% in the
entrance examination, which was contrary to Regulation 9 of the
Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, and also it provided
for reservations for admission to the postgraduate medical courses. Hence B
this appeal.

On behalf of the appellant it was contended that under Article 15(4)
of the Constitution the State Government had the right to issue executive
. orders making reservation in postgraduate medical courses; and that C
relaxation of the norms to the extent of 10 % of the marks was permissible.

Disposing of the appeals, the Court

HELD : 1.1. The power to be exercised under Article 15(4) of the
Constitution is a power arising under the Constitution. Though in a sense D·
the Medical Council of India could also be a 'State' for certain purposes,
such a body would not be suited to make the necessary reservation in
respect of socially and educationally backward classes in terms of Article
15(4) of the Constitution because of the need or the necessity for prescription,
taking into account several consideration such as different levels of social,
E
economic and educational development of the State or different regions
in the State. Such considerations arise in the context of Article 16 as well.
These vital aspects of policy necessitated equally by great public and
general importance can be properly appreciated by the Government,
Central or State, rather than the Medical Council of India, though in the
context of fixing the standards and the extent to which the difference in F
standards has to be maintained between the general category and the
reserved category must be left to the Medical Council of India. [81-C-F]

Dr. Preeti Srivastava v. State of M.P., [1999] 7 SCC 120, followed.
G
1.2. If, in a given case, the prescription of reservation for weaker
sections by the State is to such an enormous extent as to reduce the
candidates to be selected on the basis of merit performance in an
examination from the general category to a very small number, then
perhaps the Medical Council of India may have to take appropriate steps
H
74 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A by stipulating specific standards for such rese..Ved category candicia.tes
also and not otherwise. [82-B; CJ

. DI: Preeti Srivasta~a v.. State of M.P., [1999] 7 SCC 120, explained.

2.1. Thus, proper balance will have to be struck both by the Medical
B Council of Indfa and by the Government, Central and State, in ·exercise
of their respective powers. The Medical Council of India, a creature of
a statue, cannot be ascribed with such powers to reduce the State
Governments to nothiiig on, and in respect of, areas over which the States
have' the constitutional mandate and goal assig'oed to them to be performed.
c The Medical Council of India cannot also purport to arm itself With powers
arid prescribe a· standard, which is impossible ~f attainment by a candidat~
belonging to a reserved category or for that matter ev.en gene.rat candidates
and whatever is fixed, must be realistic and within attainable limits.
[82-D; E]

D 2.2. The finding of the High Court that the. notification issued by
the appellant~Sfate is invalid to the extent of making reservation in terms
of Article 15(4) ~f the Constitution is set aside. (82-F]

3.1. When an entrance test is held; a prescription has beeri inade by
E the Medical Council of India ·fixing a standard in terms of Entry 66, List·
I of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution which cannot be diluted· at
all. (85-D]

· Dr. Preeti Srjvastava v. State of M.P., (1999] 7 SCC 120, Dr. Narayan
Sharma v. Dr. Panka.i Kumar Lehkar, ·(2000] 1 SCC 44 and Medical CounCil
F of India v. State o.f Karnataka, [1998] 6 SCC 131, relied on.

Unni Krishnan, J.P. v. State of AP, [1993] 1 sec 645, referred to. '

3.2. It i~ not open, to the University or Government to dilute the
standard by fixing marks lower than what is set out by the Medical Council
G of India under Regulation 9 ·of the Postgraduate Medical Regulations,
2000. If they had any difficulty they ought to have approa·ched the Medical
Council of India for fixing of appropriate standards in that regard. The
State Government could not unilaterally frame a scheme reducing the
standard in violation of the terms of the Regulatios framed by the Medical
H Council of India, which is the repository of the power to prescribe
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 75
standards in Post graduate studies subject, of course, to the control of the A
Central Government as envisaged in the Act constituting the Council.
[85-E; F]

4. The prescription reducing the minimum marks 40% in the entrace,
examination for considering the eligibility of the candidates for admission
to postgraduate medical courses and in respect of the basic subjects fixing B
no minimum ·standard is plainly in contravention of the Regulations
framed by the Medical Council of India and that part of the notification
will have to be ignored. [86-C]

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 7112-7114
OF 2001. C
From the Judgment and Order dated 18.6.2001 of the Punjab & Haryana
High Court in C.W.P. No. 698, 6847 and C.M. No. 17074 of 2001 in C.W.P.
No. 6847 of 2001 respectively.

With
n
C.A. No. 7115, 7116, 7117 & 7118-7119 of 2001.

- Altaf Ahmad, Additional Solicitor General, R. Mohan and P.P. Rao,
Rajeev Sharma, R.S. Suri, Seeraj Bagga, Dr. Krishan Singh Chauhan, Chand
Kiran, Dr. K.P.S. Dalal, Nidesh Gupta, Naveen Singh, Ms. S.Janani, K.G.
Bhagat, Vineet Bhagat, Devasis Misra, Sudhir Walia, M.S. Dahiya, A. Subba E
Rao, Ashok K. Mahajan, Rajesh Sharma, Ms. Shalu Sharma, Goodwill
Indeevar, A. Mariarputham, Meninder Singh, Ms. Pratibha M. Singh, Ms.
Kavita Wadia, and Ankur Talwar for the appearing parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
F
RAJENDRA· BABU, J. Leave granted in all the SLPs.

The appellant-State issued a notification on 5.°I.2001 regarding admission
to post graduate medical courses in the State of Punjab. 60% of the seats
in such courses were reserved for eligible candidates in Service, while 40%
of the seats were kept open to all eligible candidates who were residents of G
the State of Punjab. Clause 5 thereto, which provides ·for determination of
merit and eligibility for admission, reads as under:

l. IN CASE OF MEDICAL/DENTAL COLLEGES:

(a) The merit of the candidates will be determined by the University
H
76 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2001] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A by holding the Postgraduate Entrance Test of eligible candidates,
for admission to three years degree courses for the session 2001.

(b) There will be separate merit list for in service 60% quota
candidates for Government Medical/Dental Colleges and a
separate merit list for remaining who are not covered under in
B service category candidates. The merit list for open and reserve
candidates will be combined and reserve candidates will be
eligible for open seats also, as per their merit.

(c) Interview is compulsory for all callPidates applying for the
c postgraduate admission. No separate interview letters will be
issued.

(d) Candidates securing- at least 40% marks in the competitive
examination will be eligible for admission except for admission
to the basic subjects viz. Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry,
D Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine
and Social and Preventive Medicine where there will be no
condition of minimum marks. Inter.view for M.S./M.S./M.D.S
courses will be held in the office of Vice Chancellor, Baba_ Farid
University of Health Sciences Faridkot.
E
(e) One mark each to PCMs candidates for admission to postgraduate
course under 60% quota for one completed year of rural service
over and above the three years minimum rural service required
for eligibility for admission under this quota shall be given in
the following manner:
F
(i) The incentive of additional marks would be available only
to those PCMs candidates who have obtained the minimum
40% qualifying marks.

(ii) The number of marks, which may be given as an incentive
G
for additional rural service, will be limited to 3(five).

(iii) The completed year of rural service on the basis of which
incentive will be given, must have been rendered at places
Which are at least 15 kms. or more beyond municipal/
H notified area committee limits.
•

STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 77
The validity of the notification dated 5.1.2001 issued by the appellant- A
State was challenged in the High Court with respect to prescription of lower
marks than were prescribed by Regulation 9 framed by the Medical Council
of India.

. On the basis of the contentions raised before the High Court, two
questions were formulated for consideration, firstly, the notification issued by B
the appellant State on 5.1.2001 providing for appointment to the students for
the· postgraduate medical courses with less than 50% marks in the entrance
examination is contrary to Regulation 9 of the Postgraduate Medical Education
Regulations, 2000 [hereinafter referred to as the Regulations] framed by the
Medical Council of India under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, on c
22.8.2000, and secondly, as to the scope of reservations that would be made
by the State Government.

On both these questions, the High Court held against the appellants and
quashed the notification issued by the appellant State to the extent that it lowers
the qualifying marks from less than 50% in the entrance examination and . D
provides for reservations for admissions to the postgraduate medical courses
and thereby, the High Court directed the University to hold fresh counseling
and to admit students as per their merit in accordance with the Regulations .
framed by the Medical Council of India after excluding the students who had
applied on the basis of reservation. Hence these appeals by State of Punjab E
and others.

Shri Altaf Ahmad, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for
the State of Punjab, submitted that the High Court has not understood the effect
of the decision in Dr. Preeti Srivastava & Anr. v. State of M.P. & Ors., [1999)
7 SCC 120; that this Court did not decide the question whether the Medical
F
' Council of India alone can prescribe reservations with respect to socially and
economically backward classes or otherwise in post-graduate inedical cour~es;
that the conclusion that reservation made in the impugned notification is
invalid is not correct; that on correct interpretation of Regulation 9 of the
Medicai Council of India Regulations the prescription of 40% marks by the G
State of Punjab is correct; and that the High Court ought not to have interfered
with the same.

Shri Altaf Ahmad submitted that in the notification issued by the State
for regulating the selection for admission there is no distinction between a
H
78 SUPREME COURT REPORTS · [2001) SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A general category candidate and a reserved category candidate so far as the
required merit. is concerned, except for their respective quota by which the
requisite percentage of candidates was to be . taken from amongst their
respective categories; that under Article 15(4) of the Constitution, the State
Government and the University acting under the directions of the State have
a right to, issue-~xecutive orders making reservations and the Medical Council
B
of India, which is a creature of.the Medical Council of India Act, 1956 cannot
have a right to exercise constitutional powers such as .those contained in Article
15(4) or in any manner hamper and thwart the .move of the State to exercise
its powers under Artide 15(4); that as per the decision in Dr. Pree ti Srivastava 's
Ca$e (supra) not only reservation as set out in Article 15(4) of the Constitution
c but relaxation of n.orms to an extent of 10% of the marks is permissible to
reserved classes of candidates. He further contended that the High Court had
not correctly understood the scope of the decisions in Dr. Preeti Srivastava's
case [supra], Dr. Narayan Sharma & Anr. v. Dr. Pankaj Kumar Lehkar & Ors.,
[2000] 1 SCC 44 and Medical' Council of India v.. State of Karnataka & Ors..
D [19981 6 sec 131.

Shri P.P.Rao, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the respondents,
submitted that Regulation 9(1) requires admission to postgraduate courses in
medicine to be done strictly on the basis of academic merit to be adjudged
as per norms. and standards laid down and that the first proviso to Regulation
E 9(2) mandates that the minimum percentage of marks for eligibility for
admission shall be 50% for all the candidates who appeared for the entrance
test and in the absence of prescription of a separate minimum percentage of
marks for eligibility of backward classes, the logical inference would be that
the Medical. Council of India did not visualise any reservation of seats or
F different and separate standards for weaker sections in postgraduate medical
courses as that would dilute standards; that in Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case
[supra], this Court had expressly left it to the Medical Council of India as an
exp~rt body to decide, with the assistance of its Postgraduate Medical
Education Committee whether there should be reservation in postgraduate
cour$es or not and if so also to what extent. However, the Medical Council.
G of India did not provide for any reservation in the Regulations; that it did not
also prescribe a separate percentage of ffiinimum marks at the entrnnce test
for postgraduate admissions for eligibility of candidates belonging to reserved
category; that the silence on the part of the Regulations on these two material
aspects leads to the irresistible inference that the Medical Council of India did
H not contemplate and provide for any reservations at the level of admissi?n to.
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 79

post graduate courses in any manner for the academic year in question; that A
the reservations rriade by the State Government in its notification dated
5. L2001 not being based on the decision of an expert body such as 1:'1e Medical
Council of India with the Postgraduate Medical Edu~ation Committee mentioned
in Section 20 of the Indian Medical Council Act, itis not in accordance with
the law declared in Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case [supra], and, therefore, the
conclusion arrived at by the High Court on questions referred to above is B
correct; that the prescription of 40% marks at the entrance test for all candidates
as against 50% marks at the entrance test prescribed by .the Medical Council
of India for all students in the proviso to Regulation 9(2) is ultra vires and
rightly struck down by the High Court.
c
A Five-Judge Bench of this Court in Dr. Preeti Srivas.tava's case [supra],
made an exhaustive consideration of the scope of Entry 25 of List III in the
Seventh Schedule to the Constitution and Entry 66 of L~st I in the Seventh
Schedule to the Constitution. This Court made it clear that the State's
competence under List III Entry 25 to control or regulate higher education is
subject to the standards so laid down by the Union of India and States have D
competence to prescribe rulei: for admission to postgraduate medical courses
so long as they are not inconsistent with or do not adversely affect the standards
laid down by the Union of India or its delegate. Fixing minimum qualifying
marks for passing the entrance test for admission to postgraduate courses is
concerned with the standard of postgraduate m~dical education. Once E
minimum standards are laid down, States are competent to prescribe any
further qualifications for selecting better students as they would not adversely
affect the standards so laid down by the Medical Council oflndia.. Certain
observations were made in that decision to the effect that it is for the Medical
Council of India to determine the reservation of seats, if any, to be made for
F
SCs/STs/OBCs, the extent thereof and lowering of qualifying marks in their
favour on the basis of proper balancing of public interests and, on this aspect;
one of the learned Judges dissented and stated that States are fully competent
to control admission to postgraduate courses, provide for reservation of seats,
and lay down criteria for short-listing of eligible candidates for postg~aduate
courses under Entry 25, List III in the absence of any Central legislation on G
these aspects. However, the majority of the learned Judges ultimately summed
i.!p their conclusions as follows:

1. We have not examined the question whether reservations are
permissible at the postgraduate level of medical education.
H
80 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A 2. A common entrance examination envisaged under the regulations
framed by the Medical co·uncil of India for postgraduate
medical education requires fixing of minimum qualifying marks
for passing the examination since it is ·not a mere screening test.

3. Whether lower minimum qualifying marks for the reserved
B
category candidates can "be prescnbed at the postgraduate level
of medical education is a question which must be decided by
the Medical Council of India sinc·e it affects the standards of
postgraduate medical education. Even if minimum qualifying
marks can be lowered for the reserved category candidates, there
c cannot be a wide disparity between the minimum qualifying
marks for the reserved category candidates and the minimum
qualifying marks for the generai' ca~egory candidates at this
leveL The percentage of 20% for the reserved category and 45%
for the general category is not permissible under Article 15(4), '
the same being unreasonable at the postgraduate level and
D
contrary to the public interest.

4. At the level of admission to the superspe.ciality courses, 110
·special provisions are permissible, they being contrary to 'the
national interest. Merit alone can be the basis of selection.
E
It is clear from this summary of the conclusions that this Court was not
concerned in that decision with the question as to whether reservations are
permissible for postgraduate medical courses or not. This Court .was only
paying attention to the question of fixing fower .minimum qualifying marks
for reserved category candidates and it was stated that such question must be
F
decided by the Medical Council of India since it affects the. standards of
)=
postgraduate medical education. This Court also stated that fixing of qualifying
marks to be obtained at the percentage of 20% for the reserved category and
45% for the general category is not permissible under Article 15(4), the same
,.
ft

being unreasonable at the postgraduate level and contr.ary to the public interest.
G However, it was noticed that even if minimum qualifying marks can be lowered
for the reserved category candidates, there cannot be a wide disparity between
the minimum qualifying marks for the reserved category candidates and the
minimum qualifying marks for the general category candidates at the level of
postgraduate medical education. The obvious effect of these conclusions
H would be that this Court did not totally rule out the prescription of reservation
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 81
in postgraduate courses nor did it say that such prescription couldn't be A
provided for with lower minimum qualifying marks. All that was stated was
that if there is a reserved category and lower minimum qualifying marks are
prescribed for them, such prescription should not give rise to a wide disparity.
between the lower minimum qualifying marks prescribed for the reserved
category and for the general category. In our view, this is the correct position
in law and the High Court obviously has proceeded on the basis of certain B
observations made in the. course of the judgment which have not culminated
in·the ratio~ale behind the judgment in reaching the appropriate conclusions.
When this Court has stated that .it was not concerned with the question of
reservation as arising under Article 15(4), to state that this Court had decided
such a question is very difficult of acceptance.

Indeed the power to be exercised under Article 15(4) .by the States is
a power arising under the Constitution. Though in a sense the Medical Council
of India could also be a State for certain purposes, such a body would not
be suited to make the necessary reservation in respect of socially and
educationally backward classes in terms of Article 15(4) of the Constitution D
because of the need or the necessity for prescription, taking into account
several considerations such as different levels of social, economic and educational
development of the State or different regions in the 'State. Such considerations
arise in the context of Article 16 as well. It is well known that the States
often do appoint Backward Classes Commission to identify the socially and E
. educationally backward classes and the manner in which their conditions have
to.be ameliorated. These vital aspects .of policy necessitated equally by great
public and general importance can be properly appreciated by the Government,
Central or State, rather than the Medical Council of India, though in the context
of fixing the standards and the extent to which the difference in standards have
to be maintained between the general category and the reserved category must
F
be left to Medical Council of India as noticed in Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case
[supra]. Therefore, whatever observations have been made by this Court in
Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case cannot be considered in isolation and stretched
beyond what this Court ultimately stated in its conclusions. The question
whether the Medical Council of India Regulations excluded reservation to be G
made in favour of socially and educationally backward classes either expressly
or by necessary implications does not arise for consideration in the view we
have taken that the Government State/Central are better suited to exercise
powers under Article 15(4) of the Constitution and hence we do not propose
to examine that aspect of the matter. H
82 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2001] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A Insofar as the provision for reservation made by the State of Punjab in
respect of socially and educationally backward classes, no exception can be
taken of because, as we have explained earlier, it is a prerogative and duty
of the State to indulge in such an exercise in carrying out and implementing
the constitutional policy declare<! in Article 46 of the Constitution armed with

B
the enabling power under Article 15(4) of the Constitution and there has been ..
-
no decision on the point including the decision in Dr. Preer[ Srivastava' s case
[supra] to the effect that the Medical Council of India can alone or shall do
so. If in a given case, the prescription of reservation for weaker sections by
the State is to such an enormous extent as to reduce the candidates to· be
selected on the basis of merit performance in an examination from the general
c category to a very small number, then perhaps the Medical Council of India
may have to take appropriate steps by stipulating specific standards for such
reserved category candidates also and not otherwise. The observation of
enabling Medical Council oflndia in setting the standards in medical education
.. includes the extent of reservation for soeially and. educationally backward
.r:>.d::IBses in Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case [supra] should be understood iri this '
background. Thus, proper balance will have to be struck both by the Medical
Council of India and by the Government, Central and :st.ate, in exercise of their
respective powers. The Medical Council of India, a creature of a statute, cannot
be ascribed with such powers to reduce the State dovernments to nothing on
and in respect of areas over which the States have constitutional mandate and
E goal assigned to them to be performed. The Medical Council of India cannot
also purport to arm itself with powers to prescribe a standard, which is
impossible of attainment by a candidate belonging to a reserved category or
for that matter- even general candidates and whatever is fixed, must be reali~tic
and within attainable limits. In conclusion, the finding of the High Court that
F the notification issued by the Appellant State is invalid to the extent of making
reservation in terms of Article 15(4) of the ConstitQtion is set aside.

Regulation No. 9 of the Regulations framed by the Medical Council of
India reads as follows :

G "9. SELECTION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
. I

(1) Students for postgraduate medical courses shall be selected strictly
..,.
..
on the basis of their academic merit.

(2) For determining the academic merit, the University/Institution
H
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 83
may adopt any one of the following procedures both for degree and A
diploma· courses:

(i) On the basis of merit as determined by a compet1t1ve test
conducted by the State Government or by the competitive
,! authority appointed by the State Government or by the University/
. group of Universities in the same state; B

(ii) On the basis of merit as determined by a centralized competitive
test held at the national level; or

(iii) On the basis of the individual cumulative performance at the
first, second and third MBBS examinations, if such examinations
c
have been passed from the same University; or

(iv) Combination of (i) and (iii):

Provided that whatever entrance test for postgraduate/admissions is D
held by a State Government or a University or any other authorised
examinin~ body, the minimum percentage of marks for eligibility for
adffiission to postgraduate medical courses shall be fifty per cent for
all the candidates:

Provided further that in non-Governmental institutions fifty percent E
of the tutal seats shall be filled by the competent authority and the
remaining fifty percent by the management of the institution on the
basis of merit."

Shri Altaf Ahmad submitted that under the Regulations framed by the
F
Medical Council of India the State could adopt the following four modes of
selection as provided in Regulation 9:

1. On the basis of merit as determined in a competitive test;

....
..,....
2.. On the basis of merit as determined by a centralized competitive test
held at the national level;
G
~

3. On the basis of lhe individual cumulative performance at the first,
second and third MBBS examinations, if such examinations have been passed
from the same University; or
H
84 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A 4 .. Combination of 1 and 3 above.

The submission of Shri Altaf Ahmad in this regard is that the proviso
- t() Regulation 9 of the Regulations would not be attracted to the present case;
that the appellants adopted a hybrid procedure of combining merit in the
competitive examination with cumulative performance at the first, second and
B third MBBS examinations; and when such a course has been adopted by the
appellants, .the prescription under the proviso that minimum percentage of
marks of 50% to be obtained by a candidate as marks for eligibility would
not be attracted at all.

c It is not dear \vhether all the candidates have passed the said three
- 1
examinations· in the MBBS from the same University so as to attract clause
2(iii) of Regulation 9 of the Regulations framed by the Medical Council of
India. Further the basis of submission of Shri Altaf Ahmad is that all those
candidates who have passed the MBBS examination, become eligible and that
is the eligibility, ~hich is taken into consideration and not the marks obtained
D
in the entrance examination. Therefore, there is a combination of two modes
. in selecting the candidates for the postgraduate medical courses. In our view
_this argument is plainly fallacious as this submission appears to have ignored
that in order to appear for the examination in question the minimum qualification
one must have is a degree in MBBS [which could be possible only by passing
E the required examination therefor with 50% of marks in the subjects]
without which a candj_date would not become eligible to take the entrance
examination. The notification issued by the State of Punjab clearly states that
the merit of the candidates will be determined by the U~iversity by holding
the postgraduate entrance test of eligible candidates for admission to three
F years degree courses for the session 2001. The object of holding the entrance
examination is for providing admission to three years degree course and the
mode of selection is by an entrance test and not as is suggested by the learned
Additional Solicitor General by a combination of more than one criteria as
stipulated by the Regulations. Therefore, we have no hesitation in rejecting
this contention.
G
It is clear that in respect of subjects other than Anatomy, Physiology,
Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine and
Social and Preventive Medicine at least 40% of the marks will have to be
obtained in order to be eligible for admission and in respect of other subjects
H there is no such condition at all. In the counter affidavit filed in the High
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 85
Court, it is stated that the percentage of marks has been reduced below 40% A
for the basic subjects like Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology because
the candidates of higher merit are not opting for these subjects and as such
the postgraduate seats in Departments of Anatomy, Physiology and
Pharmacology keep lying vacant and thus leading to an acute shortage of
teachers in these Departments. Further, the condition of 50% marks in the
entrance test was reduced to 40% because 80% of the seats reserved for PCMS B
doctors remained unfilled because most of them could not secure 50% marks
in PGET due to the fact that they do not get academic support in rural areas.
It is submitted that the postgraduate entrance examination is held for those
who have already passed in MBBS examination by securing at least 50% marks
and, therefore, the candidates who had not secured 50% in the postgraduate c
entrance examination cannot be declared to be filled in MBBS. The lowering
of the marks to less than 50% has the twin objective of safeguarding the
interests of weaker sections of the Scheduled Castes and Backward classes and
to meet the constitutional obligation. We are afraid, the approach of the State
of Punjab in this regard results in stultifying the logic. What is contended
is that suitable candidates are to be selected from amongst the eligible
D
candidates and in that regard an entrance test is being held. When such an
entrance test is held, a prescription has been made by the Medical Council
of India fixing a standard in terms of Entry 66, List I of the Seventh Schedule
to the Constitution and which cannot be diluted at all as has been held in a
series of decisions including Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case [supra], Dr.Narayan E
Sharma v. Dr. Pankaj Kumar Lehkar [supra] and Medical Council of India
v. State of Karnataka [supra] .. Therefore, it is not open to the University or
the Government to dilute that standard by fixing marks lower than what is set
out by Medical Council of India. If they had any difficulty they ought to have
approached the Medical Council of India for fixing of appropriate standards
F
in that regard. The State Government could not unilaterally frame a scheme
reducing the standard in violation of the terms of the Regulations framed by
the Medical Council of India, which is repeatedly stated by this Court to be
repository of the power to prescribe standards in Post Graduate studies subject,
of course, to the control of the Central Government as envisaged in the Act
constituting the Council. G

What we have n?w to see is whether the action tiiken by the appellants
is consistent with the prescription made by the Medical Council of India io
the extent of obtaining 50% marks in the entrance examination and on that
basis operate their rosters. If they do so and if the candidates, who have secured H
86 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A 50% marks, would be admitted, no interference is called for in the matter. If,
however, any of the students has secured less than 50% marks that admission
alone will have to be cancelled and appropriate directions issued to select as
against it another candidate belonging to the reserved category if there is a
reserved category candidate who ha:s secured such marks, and if no reserved
category candidate is available, must then be select.ed ftom the general
B
category.

We, therefore, find that· the prescnptlon made by the respondents
reducing the minimum marks to 40% iil the entrance examination for considering
the eligibility of the candidates for admission to postgraduate medical cournes
C and in respect of the basic subjects fixing no minimum standard is plainly in
contravention of the Regulations framed by the Medkal Council of India and
that part of the notification will have to be ignored. If that is done and if
the Regulations framed by the Medical Council of India are applied in toto,
appropriate working will have to be made by the appellants as indicated! supra
D and the same will have to be given effect to.

Some of the learned counsel appearing for private colleges drew our
attention to the scheme evolved in Unni Krishnan, J.P. & Ors. v. State. of
Andhra Pradesh & Ors., [1993] l SCC 645. In that scheme while providing
for 50% of the seats to be filled by the nominees of the Government or
E University through a common entrance examination, the remaining 50% seats
are to be filled by those candidates who made payment as prescribed. The
criteria for eligibility of candidates who get merit seats and other candidates
who come by making payment are common to both categories. It is made clear
in the scheme that management of the college cannot have any quota reserved
to itself but may provide for reservation of seats to constitutionally permissible
F
classes with the approval of the University. Seats should be allotted keeping
in view the reservation the private college may make. On this basis, they
contend that it is not open.to the Government to make reservation in respect
of classes falling under Article 15(4) of the Constitution in private colleges.
At any rate, so far as the 50% of the quota reserved for allotment by the
G Government is concerned, there cannot be any serious doubt that the reservation
made could be made applicable to them. Insofar as the remaining 50% are
concerned, also since allotments have to be made by the Government or the
University, they have to bear in mind the constitutional scheme for reservation.
How the scheme of reservation is to be worked out with reference to private
H colleges is not specifically raised before the High Court and we are at a.
STATE v. DAYANAND MEDICAL COLLEGE ANO HOSPITAL [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 87
disadvantage in not having sufficient factual data to decide this issue. On the A
material on hand, we are prima facie of the view, as stated now and that
question need not be finally decided but can appropriately be thrashed out in
any other suitable matter where sufficient data supported by pleadings is
available.

The appeals stand allowed in the terms stated above. No costs. B

V.S.S. Appeals allowed.