State of Rajasthan & Anr. v. Dr. Ashok Kumar Gupta & Ors.

THAKKAR, J. What may 'appear' to be equal treatment acco~ded in obeisance to the equality doctrine embodied in Article 14 of the Constitution in its application in 'reality' may result in denial of B equality and may accordingly be liable to be condemned for defying the equality doctrine.This has been illustrated by the provision embodied in Ordinance No. 278-E (d)(ii) of the Ordinance of Uni- versity of Rajasthan which provides for uniform addition of 5% marks to the students applying for admission to the post-graduate course in any one of the five Medical Colleges provided the student has passed c his final MBBS Examination from the College to which admission in post-graduate course is sought. The said provision has been held to be unconstitutional and in our opinion the conclusion reached by the High Court is right though the reasoning which has commended itself to this Court Is somewhat different. Three Writ Petitions were instituted in the Rajasthan High Court, (Jaipur Bench) by the Writ Petitioners who sought admission to post-graduate courses in the Colleges affiliated to the Rajastban Uni- versity. There arc five such Medical Colleges at five different centres in Rajastban, viz. Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Jodbpur and Ajmer. It appears that for the purpose of securing admission to these Colleges E the applicants seeking admission have to appear at a competitive examination called PMG, The passing of this Examination is a pre- condition for securing admission to the PMG course in any one of the aforesaid five Colleges in Rajasthan. The PMG competitive examination is 'common' for all the five Medical Colleges. There is one syllabus and one. combined examination is conducted by the University, The F successful candidates arc entitled to addition of 5% marks in the percentage of aggregate marks by way of institutional preference if the concerned candidates had passed the final MBBS Examination con· dµcted by the Rajastban University. A further addition of 5% of marks by way of institutional preference in the sense of preference dependent on the particular Medical College at which the concerned G candidate bas passed his final MBBS examination is also provided. It is this college-based institutional preference which has given rise to the present controversy. Such preference is rooted in the impugned provi- J sion nameliOrdinance 278-E(d) which deserves to be quoted: "(d) The total marks so obtained shall be converted into H 496 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1988) Supp. 3 S.C.R. percentage. The percentage so obtained shall be increased as follows: (i) By 5 if the applicant passed the final M.B.B.S. Exami­ nation from the Rajasthall University. (ii) By another 5 if the · applicant passed the Final M.B.B.S. Examination from the same institution for which selections are being made." The Writ Petitioners contended that this provision violated the equality principle enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution of India and was accord1ngly unconstitutional. It appears that while each of the five C Medical Colleges in Rajasthan is conducting post-graduate courses in specified specialities and super specialities, the Doctors who have graduated from all the Medical Colleges in Rajasthan by and large consider admission to post-graduate courses at SMS College at Jaipur as most advantageous. In other words securing admission in post- D graduate course at Jaipur in SMS College is ·considered to lie an achievement and the courses at Jaipur are the most sought after co·u'rses. The reasons underlying this keenness to secure admission in Jaipur College are understandable inasmuch as: (i) there are many more seats available for PG courses; and (ii) there are many more specialities available at the Jaipur Col­ .!ege as compared to other Colleges; A Tabular statement reflecting the positions of seats in the five Medical Colleges may best scrutinized: ------------------------------- Subject S.M.S. S.N. R.N.T. S.P. J.L.N. Total Medical Medical Medical Medical Medical College College College College College Jaipur Jodhpur Udaipur Bikaner Ajmer 1. Genl. surgery 17(4) 10(2) 8(2) 8(2) 8(2) 51(12) 2. Genl. Medicines 21(5) 9(2) 10(3) 10(2) 11(3) 61(15) 3. T.B. & C.D. 2(1) 1(0) 1(0) 0(0) 0(0) 4(1) 4. Skin & V.D. 2(0) 1(1) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 3(1) l ~ -~;:::-'<"' -"-<-: .;.,: -·-- ~-~-~ ~ " STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. A.K. GUPTA .[THAKKAR, J.] 497 'ti! 5. Psychiatry 3(1) 0(0) 0(0) 11(0) 0(0) 4(1) A ii 6. Gyne. & Obst. 18(4) 8(2) 8(2) 8(2) 8(2) 50(12) 7. Paed. Medicine 11(3) 5(1) 4(1) 4(1) 4(1) 28(7) 8. Anaesthesia 11(3) 4(1) 4(1) 4(1) 4(1) 27(7) 9. Radio-Diagnosis 2(0) 2(1) 2(1) 2(1) 2(0) 10(3) B 10. Radio-Therapy 1(1) 0(0) 0(0) 1(0) 0(0) 2(1) 11. E.N.T. 2(0) 1(1) 1(0) 1(0) 1(1) 6(2) 12. Opthalmology 6(1) 2(0) 2(1) 2(0) 2(1) 14(3) 13. Orthopaedics 8(2) 2(1) 2(0) 2(1) 2(0) 16(4) 't 14. Pathology 4(1) 1(0) 1(0) 1(1) 1(0) 8(2) 15. Microbiology 2(1) 1(0) 1(1) 1(0) ~(O) 6(2) 16. P.S.M. 2(0) 1(0) 1(0) l(l) 1(0) 6(1) 17. Physical Medicine 1(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 1(0) ;D & Rehabilitation 18. Anatomy 1(1) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) '1(1) 19. Physiology 0(0) 1(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 1(0) 20. Bio-Chemistry 0(0) 0(0) 1(0) 0(0) '0(0) 1(0) E 21. Pharmocology 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 1(0) 0(0) 1(0) 114(28) 49( 12) 46( 12) 47( 12) tl5(l1) 301(75) ;p B. DIPLOMA I II III 'IV y VI D.A. 6(1) 0 6(2) 6(1) 'O '.18(>l) DCH. 6(2) 0 6(1) '6(2) 0 i8(5) D.P.H. 6(1) 0 0 0 0 6('1) f6 D.G.0. 6(2) ·o 6(1) (0) 0 12(3) D.M.R.D. 6(2) 0 (0) (0) 0 6(2) Tot~!: 30(8) tJ 18(4) ·12(3) 0 •OO(li:S) fH 498 SUPREME COURT REPORTS I 1988) Supp. 3 S.C.R. Note: The figures shown in bracket are the seats reserved for being filled up on all India basis in the year 1988. The facility for the specialities from serial No. 18 to 21 i.e. Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-Chemistry and Pharmacology, are available in all the five Medical Colleges in Rajasthan. But from the year 1988, the facility in these specialities will be provided by rotation. Now it has to be realized that the aggregate marks for all subjects put together is 2750. 5% of these marks would work out to 137 .5 marks. In the result a candidate from the same College wiJI have an advantage of 137 .5 marks over candidates from other Colleges. In Medical courses where there is intense competition and candidates run neck to neck so often with a difference of a mark or two, a difference of 137 .5 marks by way of College-wise institutional preference would virtually make a mockery of the merit criteria. A candidate, say from Jaipur College, who secures 137 .5 marks less than a candidate from Jodhpur, Bikancr, D Udalpur or Ajmer wJU get admission In P.O. Course at Jaipur In pre· ference to the other more meritorious candidates merely because he passed the M.B.B.S. Examination at Jaipur even though all of them secured their marks at the identical competitive examination to all the Colleg~s. It needs no argument that Art. 14 is seriously shattered. E Statements filed by the parties in this Court further go to show that some disciplines are available only in particular Colleges and not in other Colleges. For instance: . 1. M.D. in 'Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation' is available only in S.M.S. College, Jaipur. · 2. 'T.B. and£:.D.' is not available in Ajmer Medical College. 3. 'Skin and V.D.' is not available in Udaipur and Ajmer Colleges. o 4. 'Psychiatry' is available only in Jaipur and Bikaner Colleges and not in others. 5. M.D. in 'Radio therapy' is available only in Jaipur and Bikaner and not in other Colleges. H An analysis of the data reflected in the aforesaid statement and ;:: ;; STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. A.K. GUPTA [THAKKAR, J.] 499 its impact on the fortunes of the students aspiring for the Post A Graduate courses reveal: (i) that a student passing his final degree examination in MBBS from Jaipur would steal a march over the students passing from the remaining four Colleges for with 5% weightage a student from Jaipur would have. a far better chance of securing admission B in a post-graduate C(,Jurse at Jaipur inasmuch as there are as many . as 114 seats at the Jaipur Medical College as compared to the number of seats ranging between 45 and 49 in each of the remain- ing Medical Colleges regardless of the superior merits of students from other colleges. (ii) a student passing his final degree examination in M.B.B,S. from Jaipur aspiring for admission in P.O. cour11e would have a far better chance of securing admission in the sttbject of his choice vis·a·vls students from all other Colleges inasmuch as in each subject the number of scats in the Jaipur College is much D larger .than in any of the remaining Colleges regardless of his superior merits. (iii) a candidate from any of the four Colleges other than Jaipur College would have practically no chance of securing admission in certain disciplines such as: E (a) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, (b) Anatomy, (subject to rotation after 1988) ( c) Radio therapy, and ( d) Psychiatry et.c. regardless of his superior merits. (iv) A candidate with a special aptitude for a particular disci­ pline would not get admission in PG course in that discipline unless he belongs to a College in which the particular discipline is G available regardless of his superior merits. The merit position in relation to the students would also undergo a, vast change as is revealed by the tabular statement reproduced hereunder: 'B (; ·D 500 SUPREME COURT ·REPOR'l'S !1988] Supp. 3 S.C.R. MER>tlt:P-OSll'IO'NfOF RESPONDENTS WimAND w:J:THOUT 'COLLEGE-WISE' INStrronoNAL WEIGHrAGE: SI. No. Name Jvforit Position with 5% - without 5% Institutional Institutional 'Weightage weightage SI.·No. Name Merit 'Position 1. Dr. AshOk'Kuma:rGupta '207 171 2. Dr. 1Rajeev A'huja 226 209 3. Dr. Ashwani Kumar Singh 201 162 4. Dr. lshwar Das 177 131 5. 'Dr. Ratan Lal tiwari 215 181 6. Dr. Madhu Sanwal 97 45 The fortunes of the candidates would thus·undergo a sea change. Those who are more meritorious having secured more aggregate •ma:rb'than·otherswould not get admission to PG courses anywhere in Rajlisthan, whereas those with lesser -merits would get admission by reason ·of the 5% College-wise preference. To take the case of the iE appellilnts, they having secured aggregate marks of 1650, 1638, 1624, 161'7 and 1613 have not been able to secure admission in any discipline. As ·against ·this candidates have secured much less marks already >Secured <afirtiission in one or the other of the 5 Medical Colleges. In ·order :to <illustrate 'the 'point, the tabular statements reproduced ·hereilibei11w may·be•glanced at: ' '.j; Medic~l'Cdllege Aggregate mat ks of 'Discipline allotted 'last candidate ·Joahpur 1548 M.D. (Anaesthesia) I(; • Udliipur 1626 M.S. (Surgery) faipilr 1602 M.D. (Anaesthesia) Bikaner 1622 M.D. (Microbiology) If.I 'Statement'showing list of candidates, less meritorious (that the appel­ · 11a1its)1Who have'Secured-admission: •. STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. A.K. GUPTA [THAKKAR, J.J 501 .. ' College Aggregate marks Discipline allotted A. Jodhpur 1610, M.D. 1605 (Medicine) 1601 M.D. (Skin & V.D.) 1606, 1595, M.S. 1590 (Surgery) 1576, M.S. 1577 (Orthopaedics) 1582, 1570, M.D. D 1548 (Anaesthesia) 1638 M.D. (Medicine) 1637' 1635, 1626 M.D. E (InTB&CD,) Psychiatry (Skin & V.D.) .1629, 1610, M.S . F 1604 (S\lrgery) 1620 M.S. (Orthopaedics) 1617, 1603, 1602 M:.D. G (Anaesthesia) What emerges from the above statements is that wll* one of the appellants who has secured 1650 marks in the common competitive examination has not been able to secure admissioIJ i11 P.O. C911rse in H A any College in Rajasthan, a candidate who secured about 100 marks less ( 1548 marks) in the very same examlnati<>n has been able to secure admission, the rest of the appellants have not been able to secure admission anywhere though they have demonstrably secured more marks and are more meritorious than the aforesaid 22 persons. This analysis exposes the extremely unfair and unjust impact of the B impugned rule. This factor coupled with the four factors highlighted earlier leave no room for doubt that while on the face of it the impugned rule appears to extend or accord equal treatment of 5% weightage to the students of each of the five Medical Colleges, in actual operation it brings about oppressive and obnoxious inequality. Once the veil of 'apparent' equality is pierced, the ugly inequality c stares one in the eyes which are opened to the offensive 'reality'. Such being the position the constitutional validity of the impugned rule cannot be sustained. It has to be buried unceremoniously as uncon· stitutional being violate of Art. J4 of the Constitution of India. The High Court has struck down as unconstitutional the impugned D provision embodied in note (d)(ii) of Ordinance 278-E mainly on the ground that coupled with the institutional preference accorded under clause (i) it would virtually amount tci making 100% reservation in favour of the students of the Rajasthan University in the sense that no other student of any other University would have any reasonable chance to secure admission to these courses, relying in the principle E enunciated in Nidamarti Mahesh Kumar v. State of Maharashtra.& Ors., AIR 1980 SC 1362·( 1980) 3 SCR 1302, the reasoning is reflected in the following passage extracted from paragraph 25 of the judgment under appeal: "Thus after having given 5% weightage on the ground of institutional preference that a candidate has passed his final MBBS Examination from the University of Rajasthan, further 5% weightage on the ground that he has passed his MBBS final examination from the Medical College where he seeks admission, in Post Graduate course, is unreaso;=-­ able and arbitrary and does not stand the touchstone of Article 14 of the Constitution. If 10% weightage is given as aforesaid it will come to 275 marks and with this increase in marks no candidate from University other than University of Rajasthan can get admission to Post Graduate course in any one of the medical colleges. It is· against the equality clause as it amounts to cent per cent reservation as 10% weightage in admission to Post Graduate course to a stu- STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. A.K. GUPTA [THAKKAR, J.J 503 dent, 5% weightage on the University basis and 5% on the institutional basis, amounts to total exclusion of candidates of other Universities. We have already referred to the admissions for the years 1986 and 1987 and at the cost of repetition we may say that a look at Schedules 'A' and 'B' regarding admissions in SMS Medical College, Jaipur in Post Graduate courses for the years 1986 and 1987 respec­ tively will show that not a single candidate from the Uni­ versity other than University of Rajasthan could seek admission.'' Since however a number of seats are now (since 1988) reserved in each College for candidates on an All India basis as disclosed by the tabular statements reproduced in the earlier part of this judgment, we prefer to rest our decision on the reasoning indicated earlier. These are the reasons which impelled us to pass the final order as under on July 21, 1988: "ORDER I The appeals fail and are dismissed. II Ordinance 278-E(d)(ii) of the Ordinances of the University of Rajasthan is declared as unconstitutional and quashed. III Admissions to the Post Graduate Degre<! Courses in all the Medical Colleges at all centres in Rajasthan shall hereafter be made inaccordance with the decision of the High Court rendered on August 7, 1987 in the Writ Peti­ tions giving rise to the present appeals which is hereby confirmed. TV Future vacancies including unfilled vacancies to the Post Graduate Degree Courses in all the Medical Colle­ ges in Rajasthan shall hereafter be filled on the basis that Ordinance 278-E(d)(ii) is invalid provided however that those students who have been admitted to Post Graduate ·~ ., . 504 R.S.S. SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1988] Supp. 3 S.C.R. courses pursuant to the interim order of this Court will not be disturbed. and will be permitted to complete their COUfSf'.S. v Ui;ifilled. vacancies may be filled in accordance with and in the light of this order even at this juncture if it can be so done. VI Reasons will follow. VII 'fhcore will be no order as to costs." Appeal dismissed.