'Who knows, someday she may become an excellent doctor'
SC on admission to girl with disability in MBBS course
New Delhi, Feb 10: "Who knows, someday she may become an excellent doctor," the Supreme Court said on Friday as it came to the rescue of a girl, who was denied admission in MBBS course due to her language and speech impairment, and directed a medical board of PGIMER Chandigarh to examine her.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala directed that the medical board be constituted by the director of PGIMER Chandigarh, including a specialist on language and speech impairment to examine the girl, who is from Haryana.
The bench also directed that a report be filed by the medical board in the court after examining her in a month.
Advocate Gaurav Sharma, appearing for the National Medical Commission, suggested that it is not coming in the way of girl's education in MBBS course but it would be appropriate if she is examined by a medical board to ascertain, whether she will be able to cope up with the course.
He said that admission for this academic year has already been done but she can take admission for next academic year.
The bench then noted, "the petitioner has approached this court that she has been denied admission in MBBS course on the ground that she has speech and language impairment of 55 per cent. Without embarking on legal norms to find a resolution, we accordingly direct that the petitioner be examined by a medical board at PGIMER Chandigarh. The medical boards file its report within a month after examining her."
Advocate Gaurav Agrawal, appearing for the girl, said there was no challenge to the Medical Council of India Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997 as amended on February 4, 2019.
The top court had issued notice on September 26, last year and sought response from the Centre and the National Medical Commission on the plea.
Agrawal had earlier submitted that the student, despite clearing NEET examination, is being denied her right to education as she has speech impairment.
He had said that her disability is qualified under the new regulations and she can be accommodated in the reserved quota.
The bench had then observed that had the petitioner come early, then the court could have exercised its power under Article 142 to protect the girl and her academic year could have been saved.
In her plea, the girl has said, "The petitioner, despite being a disabled person and suffering from disability, dreamt of pursuing MBBS and becoming a doctor. The petitioner was allotted a seat in the Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, Haryana under the Person with disability category through counseling".
The plea said, however, she was declared ineligible after the disability board decided her disability is at 55 per cent.
Under the Disability Act, 40 per cent disability is allowed for taking the benefit of the reservation under the Act.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
