'Medical seats can't remain vacant': SC asks Centre to hold talks with stakeholders
New Delhi (PTI): Seats in medical courses cannot remain vacant, the Supreme Court on Friday said and asked the Centre to hold a meeting with the relevant stakeholders, including the states, and consider the recommendations of a committee appointed over the issue.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan was hearing the matter when it observed, "Seats also cannot go vacant."
In April, 2023, the apex court flagged the issue of super speciality seats in medical courses remaining unfilled.
The Centre had then proposed to appoint a committee, consisting of all the stakeholders including representatives of states and private medical colleges, under the chairmanship of director general of health services to resolve the issue.
On Friday, the Centre's counsel said the committee comprising the stakeholders was constituted and it had given its recommendations on the issue.
It would be appropriate if the Centre held a meeting with the stakeholders and came out with a concrete proposal, the counsel said.
The bench therefore directed for the meeting to be held by the Centre.
The apex court said the needful be done within three months and posted the matter in April.
In April, 2023, the top court said the plea before it depicted a "very sorry picture" given 1,003 precious super speciality seats were going to waste as no admissions could take place for the seats.
"On the one hand, we find that there is always a shortage of super speciality doctors and on the other hand these precious seats remain unfilled," it said.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
