SC notice to Centre after speech disabled girl denied admission

The girl filed a petition challenging the amended Medical Council of India Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997. The court has issued notices to the Union of India, National Medical Commission and others and sought replies inthree weeks.  

The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the central government and others to a plea filed by a girl who was denied admission in a medical course on account of her speech disability. 

A Bench issued notices to the Union of India, National Medical Commission and others and sought their replies within three weeks.  The apex court was hearing a plea filed by a girl suffering from a speech defect who has challenged the amended Medical Council of India Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997. 

“As a consequence of the regulations, though the petitioner suffers from a benchmark disability within the meaning of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, she has been excluded from pursuing her medical education on the ground that her speech defect is in excess of 40 per cent. Issue notice,” the Bench said. 

The plea has challenged Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, as amended as a consequence of which the petitioner has been excluded from the exam. "This is a very sorry state of affairs, her one year is gone. Had you come early, we could have used our power under Article 142 and protected this girl. At least, her one year would have been saved," the court observed.  

Read more: 

• Prof Rajat Moona takes charge as IITGN Director 
• NIT Rourkela awarded for promoting research on millet processing 
• IIT Jodhpur launches Centre of Excellence on Arts and Digital Immersion