PIL for 5% quota for Tamil medium students in MBBS

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Thursday ordered notice to the state government on a PIL seeking 5% reservation in admission to MBBS courses in all government medical colleges for students who did school education in Tamil medium.
Admitting the plea moved by N Murugesan of Dharmapuri, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha directed the state to file its reply by February 20.
The petitioner, quoting an RTI response, said that of the 5,400 MBBS seats available in Tamil Nadu medical colleges, only less than 5% seats were secured by students who had studied in Tamil medium. The petitioner said in the academic year 2016-17 only 537 Tamil medium students got seats in MBBS course. In 2017-18 this reduced to 52 students.
Similarly, in the academic year 2018-19 only 106 Tamil medium students got admission to MMBS course in state colleges, which constitutes only 2% of the total seats, he said.
Such circumstance has created a false image among students who are pursuing school education in Tamil that they would not be able to secure a MBBS seat in government run medical college, he said.
The petitioner further added that our neighbouring state – Karnataka is already implementing 5% reservation in medical seats for candidates who have completed school education in Kannada medium.
The Tamil Nadu government which takes several steps for the growth and to safeguard Tamil language should also provide such reservation which would encourage more students to opt for Tamil medium in school education, he said.
Since the government has not responded to a representation made by him on November 4, 2019 and the schedule for NEET exam are nearing for the academic year 2019-20 the petition has moved the high court.