⦁ A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the Medical Council of India (MCI) cannot devise a quota for in-service candidates in postgraduate medical degree or diploma courses in any State.
⦁ The Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra said MCI is a creation of a statute under Entry 66 of List 1 of the Constitution.
⦁ The council’s role is to coordinate and determine the standards of medical education.
⦁ However, separate but concurring judgments authored by Justices M.R. Shah and Aniruddha Bose said States can devise a separate channel of entry for in-service doctors.
⦁ “State has the legislative competence and authority to provide for a separate source of entry for in-service candidates seeking admission to postgraduate degree/diploma courses in exercise of powers under Entry 25, List III,” Justice Shah wrote.
⦁ Candidates should serve at least for five years in rural, hilly regions after obtaining their PG degrees through this channel.
