Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Putting to rest the rumours of Yogi government scrapping the reservation for students belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories in private medical colleges, the State medical education authorities said the news was on the basis of an order issued by the previous SP government.

The news blown up by a number of news channels, websites and social media, they claimed were on the basis of an order issued by Akhilesh government on March 10, 2017, just a day before the UP poll results.

As per March 10, 2017 GO, the then State government had released an admission policy on the basis of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) merit list -2017 for PG courses. Clause 7 of the GO clearly states that in the private medical and dental colleges there would not be any provision of reservation for students belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories in the admission process.

Denying any fresh order issued by Yogi government, as claimed by news channels and sites, principal secretary, medical education, rubbished the reports as a possible act of mischief to malign the new government.

“The policy is as it was. There is no change in it. In fact, provision reservation is not there for any caste or community in private colleges,” said the officer.

Speaking over the issue, director general, medical education, Dr VN Tripathi said: "Reservation was never a part of the admission process in private sector medical and dental colleges as per the prevalent policy made in 2006. There has been no change in any policy whatsoever."

Dr Tripathi said that for the first time, private medical and dental colleges were brought under the ambit of NEET. He, however added that the State government was working to regulate the functioning of private medical and dental colleges in compliance with the Supreme Court orders.

