Delhi High Court
Deepmala Bhandar & Ors. vs University Of Delhi & Ors. on 9 April, 2009
Author: S.Ravindra Bhat
33.
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Decided on: 09.04.2009
+ W.P. (C) 8019/2009, CM-4543/2009 (Stay)
DEEPMALA BHANDAR & ORS. ..... Petitioner
Through: Ms. Shubhra Goyal, Advocate.
versus
UNIVERSITY OF DELHI & ORS. ..... Respondents
Through: Mr. A. Mariaputham, Sr. Advocate
with Mr. Anurag Kumar, Advocates for Delhi
University.
Ms. Zubeda Begum with Ms. Sana Ansari,
Advocate for Resp-3.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT
1. Whether the Reporters of local papers
may be allowed to see the judgment? YES
2. To be referred to Reporter or not? YES
3. Whether the judgment should be YES
reported in the Digest?
S.RAVINDRA BHAT, J.
%
Heard the learned counsel for the parties for disposal.
2. The writ petitioners seek an order or direction to the respondents to
effectuate the reservation in terms of Clause 2.2 of the Bulletin of
Information issued by the Delhi University for admission to the Post Graduate
Dental Course (MDS) for the year 2009.
3. The petitioners contend that even though the Bulletin holds out the
promise of reservation in Clause 2.2, nevertheless when the detail breakup
of the seats available to each stream of the course was indicated in Table-III,
no reservation had been provided.
4. The relevant portion of the Bulletin is as follows: -
"2.2 Reservation for Schedule Caste (SC)/Schedule Tribe (ST)
and Other Backward Classes (OBC) category candidates:
A. Reservation for Schedule Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe
(ST) category candidates:
Fifteen percent (15%) seats are reserved for candidates belonging to
SC and seven & half percent (7½ %) seats for ST candidates subject-
wise as per the decision of the Academic Council/Executive Council.
The above said reservation would be applied and worked out after
excluding All India seats and not against the total number of seats.
Provided that, if any seat (s) reserved for the candidates belonging to
SC and ST categories remain unfilled due to non-availability of eligible
candidate (s) under the category, shall be filled in the following
manner: -
(a) Such unfilled seat (s) will be offered to the eligible candidates of
the other category i.e. seat (s) of SC category to ST category
candidates or vice-versa as the case may be.
(b) If the seat (s) remain unfilled even after applying the above
provision, the same shall be offered to the candidates belonging
to General category.
(c) In MDS Course since the no. of seats are less than 7 there will be
no reservation of SC/ST candidates.
A SC/ST candidate while applying for admission to any of the courses,
should enclose a copy of the certificate along with the Application Form
to the effect that he/she belongs to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
Category from any of the competent authorities as listed below without
which, concession of Scheduled Caste/Tribune shall not be given:
(i) District Magistrate/Additional District Magistrate/Deputy
Commissioner/Collector/Additional Deputy
Commissioner/Deputy Collector/1st Class Stipendiary
Magistrate/City Magistrate (not below the rank of 1st Class
Stipendiary Magistrate/Executive Magistrate/Extra Assistant
Commissioner).
(ii) Chief Presidency Magistrate/Additional Chief Presidency
Magistrate/Presidency Magistrate.
(iii) Revenue officer not below the rank of Tehsildar.
(iv) Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the candidate and/or
his/her family normally reside.
(v) Administrator/Secretary to Administrator/Development Officer
(Laccadive and Minicoy Islands)."
5. The Table along with its notes is as follows: -
TABLE-III
STATEMENT SHOWING TENTATIVE NUMBER OF SEATS IN VARIOUS
POST-GRADUATE M.D.S. COURSES FOR THE SESSION 2009.
S.NO. SPECIALTY TOTAL MAIDS
Crown & Bridge
Endodontics
Dentofacial
Orthopaedics
ABBREVIATION USED: - MAIDS - Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences.
Note: 1. Seats/Courses/Institutions may be added/deleted
depending upon the status of approval from University of
Delhi/Dental Council of India/Govt. of India, Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare.
2. The above seats are total seats likely to be available in a
course/institution and are inclusive of 50% All India Quota and
Other reservations.
3. The MDS seats have been recognized by Dental Counsel of
India."
6. Learned counsel submits that the judgment of the Supreme Court in
Dr. Dinesh Kumar & Ors. v. Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad & Ors.
1985 (3) SCC 22 is categorical on the subject. It declares that reservations
have to be worked out on the total intake of seats available and thereafter
the All India Quota should be earmarked. It is submitted that this was
affirmed by the Supreme Court in its ruling in Dr. Abhay Nath & Ors. V.
University of Delhi & Ors. (WP (C) 138/2006, decided on 31.1.2007).
7. Mr. A. Mariaputham, learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the
Delhi University contends that the Delhi University has resolved that where
the number of seats is available to be filed up is seven or less, there would
be no reservation. He, however, conceded that after re-examination of the
matter, the respondents have decided in principle that the course of action
indicated in Dr. Abhay Nath's case would be followed. It was submitted that
stream or category wise reservation would not be possible, since the total
seats available to be filled through the admission process undertaken by the
Faculty of Management Studies would be only four. Learned counsel,
therefore, submitted that the University would indicate a roster system
preferably choosing to adopt the 13 point roster as in the case of recruitment
on All India basis by open competition where the reservation is indicated on
a point by point basis, for different years. He further submits that subjects,
in such circumstance, would be listed in alphabetical order and Table-III
would be amended or changed, appropriately.
8. The judgment of the Supreme Court in Dr. Abhay Nath's case had re-
collected the previous ruling in Dr. Pradeep Jain & Ors. v. Union of India &
Ors. 1984 (3) SCC 654; Dr. Dinesh Kumar (supra); Dr. Dinesh Kumar & Ors.
(II) v. Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad & Ors. 1986 (3) SCC 727,
the Constitution Bench judgment in Saurabh Chaudri & Ors. v. Union of India
& Ors. 2003 (11) SCC 146 and its previous order in Buddhi Prakash Sharma &
Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. (WP (C) 18/2005 dated 28.2.2005). The Court
recorded the suggestion so far as NCT of Delhi is concerned in the following
terms: -
"The Additional Solicitor General pointed out that in the All India
Quota of 50% seats, if 22.5% are reserved for SC/ST students, it
would be difficult for the State to give the entire percentage to
reservation out of the 50% seats left for them to be filled up. It
is equally difficult for the DGHS to have the entire 22.5%
reservation out of the 50% of the seats allotted to be admitted
in the All India Entrance Examination. Therefore, it is suggested
that the Union of India has decided to provide 22.5% reservation
for SC/ST candidates in All India Quota from the academic year
2007-08 onwards. The Union of India seeks clarification of the
order passed in Buddhi Prakash Sharma v. Union of India passed
on 28.2.2005, to the effect that 50% seats for All India Quota
shall exclude the reservation. We review that order and make it
clear that the 50% of the seats to be filled up by All-India
Entrance Examination shall include the reservation to be
provided for SC/ST students. To that extent the order passed on
28.2.2005 is clarified."
9. From the above discussion, it is evident that there was clarity in regard
to the manner of working out of the reservation in the 50% All India quota for
Post Graduate medical and dental seats. The Supreme Court took note of
the differing approaches by various states and accordingly settled the issue
as is evident from the conjoint reading in Budhi Prakash Sharma's case and
Dr. Abhay Nath's case, finally indicating that reservations should be made in
the All India quota.
10. In view of the statement and concessions made today, the petitioner's
grievance in the opinion of the Court stands redressed in the sense that the
respondents have indicated that reservation would be provided for in respect
of the four seats now available for counseling in the MDS course. Similar
approach is also necessary in the MDS and other post graduate courses. It is
submitted that the University has already approved a similar proposal for
reservations in other post graduate medical courses, where since the seats
available are more, the 200 point roster has been adopted and would be put
in place. Learned Senior counsel adverted to the proposal approved by the
Delhi University on 2.4.2009.
11. In view of the above discussion, the Delhi University is hereby directed
to take steps and ensure that all candidates who attend the counseling on
the date fixed i.e. 13.4.2009 are suitably informed about the fact that
reservations would be permissible as also the extent of such reservation.
The criteria for effectuating such reservation, i.e. the roster points shall also
be indicated clearly through appropriate means. It is open to the Delhi
University to give publicity to this change on its website and communicate it,
if feasible, to the individual candidates who are entitled to participate in the
counseling. Learned counsel also has assured the Court that in view of
this development, the counseling would be put off by about a week or so,
and that the candidates would be informed of this change on the date
scheduled i.e. 13.4.2009.
12. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in view of the above
order, she would not be pressing the Writ Petition. The same is accordingly
dismissed as withdrawn, but in terms of the above directions.
Order dasti under the signatures of Court Master.
S. RAVINDRA BHAT
(JUDGE)
APRIL 09, 2009
/vd/
