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Punjab-Haryana High Court Reinstates MBBS Admission, Upholds Freedom Fighter Quota Rights
Freedom Fighter Quota: The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently delivered a landmark judgment reinstating the admission of an MBBS student, Samarveer Singh, whose admission to Government Medical College, Amritsar, had been arbitrarily canceled. The court ruled in favor of the petitioner, emphasizing that the Freedom Fighter category must be extended to both biological and adopted children, as per existing legal provisions.
Background of the Case
Samarveer Singh had secured admission under the Freedom Fighter category in Government Medical College, Amritsar, for the 2024-25 academic session. Despite obtaining a valid seat through the counselling process conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), his admission was later revoked by the college administration. The cancellation was based on the argument that his father was an adopted son of a freedom fighter, and an outdated 1995 letter from the state government was cited to justify the decision.
Adopted child gets the same rights as a biological child
The High Court, presided over by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, examined the matter in detail. The court noted that:
• The prospectus for medical admissions explicitly provides a 1% reservation for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters without distinguishing between biological and adopted descendants.
• The state’s reliance on the 1995 letter was legally untenable, as the letter had been superseded by the latest government notifications and the admission prospectus.
• Under Section 12 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, an adopted child is entitled to the same rights as a biological child.
Amritsar Medical College Faces ₹1 L Fine
Consequently, the court quashed the admission cancellation order and directed the authorities to allow the petitioner to resume his MBBS course without any further obstruction. Furthermore, the court criticized the arbitrary cancellation as an act of misgovernance and imposed a fine of ₹1.5 lakh, with ₹50,000 payable to the petitioner and ₹1,00,000 to be deposited in the Poor Patient’s Welfare Fund at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Non-discrimination in reservation policies
This ruling sets a crucial precedent, reinforcing the fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination in reservation policies. It highlights that government authorities must adhere strictly to legally binding admission guidelines rather than relying on outdated administrative directives. Moreover, the judgment upholds the rights of adopted children under reservation policies, ensuring they are treated on par with biological descendants.
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