As the aspirants anticipate GO 33's negative effects on the admission process, the Opposition too is resisting the amendment, calling for a rollback.
Published Aug 09, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 09, 2024 | 11:00 AM
Gandhi Medical college. (Supplied)
The GO 33 introduced by the Telangana Health and Family Welfare Department has caused concern among aspiring doctors in the state, as it changes the definition of what it means to be a local of Telangana.
As the aspirants and their families anticipate its negative effects on the admission process, the Opposition with much clamour is resisting the amendment, calling for a rollback.
As the 10 years provided under Section 95 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2014), which stipulates that the successor states will be subjected to Article 371D of the constitution ends, the Telangana Health and Family Welfare Department on 19 July, issued the GO 33, amending the eligibility criteria for MBBS and Dental admissions.
Under Article 371D, the President, by order, can decide to make provisions in matters of public employment and education for various parts of the state.
Article 371D (2) elaborates that the order can also specify the designated “local area” for admission into State-run universities. It can provide preference or reservation for candidates who have studied in the stipulated local area for a set period.
As per the 2024 amendment, one of the primary changes is the increase in reservation for Scheduled Tribes to 10 percent from six percent.
Previously, the unreserved 15 percent were filled before filling in the local seats. Additionally, both locals and non-locals were eligible for the unreserved seats. The 2024 amendment deleted both rules.
However, the biggest change the amendment brought was the change in the definition of a local. While it retained the four consecutive academic year criteria, it completely omitted the seven-year residence criteria. It also defined the limits of the local area as the state of Telangana.
This change in definition has caught everyone’s attention as it alters the notion of who is considered a local of Telangana and who is not.
BRS leader T Harish Rao criticised the amendment, comparing the government to a bull in a China shop.
The Opposition BRS has called the GO 33, unfair, inefficient and rushed. BRS working president KTR took to X to express his views, “If you call all those who studied in Telangana from class 9 to 12 a local, that will include people from outside the state.”
“With this move, you reduce the share of seats for Telangana’s students. Moreover, students from Telangana studying outside will cease to be locals,” he protested. Demanding a rollback of the amendment, he called the approach suspicious.
మెడిసిన్ సీట్ల విషయంలో తెలంగాణ విద్యార్థులకు అన్యాయం చేస్తారా ?
స్థానికత విషయంలో ప్రభుత్వం అనుసరిస్తున్న తీరు అనుమానాస్పదంగా కనిపిస్తోంది.
జీవో 33 ప్రకారం నిర్దేశించిన స్థానికతలోని అంశాలు ప్రభుత్వం వేలితో విద్యార్థుల కళ్లను పొడిచినట్లే ఉన్నాయి.
9 వ తరగతి నుంచి 12 తరగతి వరకు… pic.twitter.com/sXNeFvpQFU
— KTR (@KTRBRS) August 6, 2024
BRS leader and former Health Minsiter T Harish Rao echoed KTR’s concerns at a press conference held in Hyderabad. “Telangana always got the shorter end in admissions, before the bifurcation the locals could only lay claim to about 60 to 70 percent of the seats,” he recalled.
He added that they could increase this quota to 85 percent post-bifurcation in compliance with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2014).
“We ensured that the seats in Telangana belong to the students of Telangana, that’s why we brought in a GO to make sure the children of Telangana can become doctors.”
Subsequently, the Telangana Government issued GO 114 in July 2017, issuing the Telangana Medical & Dental Colleges Admission, (Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules 2017.
It laid down the eligibility criteria for admission to medical colleges in Telangana. It looked at nationality/domicile, age, and educational qualification.
The government specified the reservations for various groups under these rules. The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities got 15 percent and six percent respectively. 29 percent was reserved for Backward Classes. This 29 percent was split amongst Groups A, B, C, D, and E. With Group B getting 10 percent and Group C receiving one percent.
The rules also specify an 85 percent reservation for local candidates. The remaining 15 percent became unreserved.
The medical colleges were then categorised into statewide and non-statewide institutions. The 85 percent for non-statewide institutions covered only local candidates. However, 85 percent of statewide institutions like the Government Dental College, Hyderabad, encompassed candidates from the Andhra University Area (Andhra Pradesh), Osmania University Area (Telangana), and Sri Venkateswara University Area (Rayalaseema).
To qualify as a local, the candidate must have studied for four consecutive academic years in the area before appearing for the qualifying exam. Furthermore, if the candidate has not studied in the local area, they shall still be a local candidate if they studied in Telangana for seven consecutive years. Similarly, they can qualify as local if they resided within Telangana for seven consecutive years despite not studying.
In 2023, the Telangana Medical & Dental Colleges Admission, (Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules 2017 were amended. As per the amendment, 100 percent of the seats in institutions established after 2 June 2014 are reserved for locals.
States like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have their specific domicile criteria. However, under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2014), the state was unable to amend the President’s rule until 10 years.
After the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act’s deadline of 2 June 2024 passed, the state now has the autonomy to frame its policies. Yet, framing and amending an existing policy specifically for medical admission is raising many eyebrows.
“Will they bring in rules for law, animal husbandry, forestry, and fisheries too?” T Harish Rao questioned. Adding that it is a golden opportunity to formulate a beneficial policy, he called the GO rushed and inefficient.
At the same press conference, T Harish Rao also alleged that it disadvantages postgraduate students in the state.
“Let’s say a student from Telangana did his MBBS in another state or got placed into AIIMS Delhi after NEET, or they’re doing their MBBS abroad. When they return to pursue the postgraduate degree in the state, they will cease to be local,” he lamented.
However, GO 33 pertains specifically to undergraduate degrees. There is no mention of amendments to the postgraduate admission rules framed in 2021. As mentioned above, these rules were also amended in 2023 to reserve 100 percent of the seats for locals. This too, applied only to colleges established post-bifurcation.
Following the uproar, the Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha took to X to issue a clarification. He stated that the in-practice rules of 2017 cannot be applicable after 2 June 2024. He added that the Opposition’s assumptions regarding students from other states becoming locals are not right.
However, the clarification did not substantiate the dismissal with adequate logic, circularly pointing at its flaws. The rushed nature of the amendment despite claimed legal consultations appears inefficient.
@BRSHarish @TelanganaCMO
NOTE ON LOCAL STATUS OF MBBS / BDS COURSES
Telangana Medical & Dental Colleges Admission (Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules 2017, orders were issued vide G.O Ms. No. 114 HM&FW (C1) Department Dt. 05.07.2017.
85% seats are allocated to the state…— Office of Minister for Health, Telangana (@TelanganaHealth) August 7, 2024
It remains to be seen if the government will double down on this inefficient approach or silently repeal it to table a better policy.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
