OCI cardholders eligible to apply for medical, engineering seats, Karnataka govt tells HC
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government clarified before the High Court that all students having Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards can be considered for admission to medical, dental and engineering course in government and private colleges at undergraduate level for 2024-25.
The advocate appearing for the government made the submission before the High Court bench while hearing a petition filed by Abhidyu Gowda Mandya Chandrashekar, who holds an OCI card and is studying in Mandya in Karnataka from the past over 10 years. The student had filed the petition challenging a clause in a January 2024 notification of the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) with regard to the Common Entrance Test (CET) this year, which stated that government seat eligibility for OCI/PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) candidates would be in accordance with the directions of the government.
Advocate Ajoy Kumar Patil, who appeared for the petitioner, arguing that the clause was contrary to the law laid down by the High Court and the Supreme Court, pointed out that a Division Bench of the High Court had stated in 2020 that OCI students should be treated on par with Indian citizens, abiding by the then notifications issued by the Union government under the Citizenship Act.
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Patil also said that the Supreme Court had passed a judgement in 2023 had declared that the March 2021 notification of the Union government under the Citizenship Act that all OCI/PIO students were eligible for admission to professional courses in the country under the NRI category operated prospectively. The Court had also clarified that the notification could not be enforced on OCI cardholders born before March 21, 2021, he pointed out.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
