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SC seeks Centre, Kerala reply on plea against nativity criterion
New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response from the Centre, Kerala and the MCI on a medical college plea seeking direction to provide for the option of filling up seats through central counselling. It also asked to quash a Kerala government decision fixing a nativity criterion for admission.
A bench, headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, asked the Central and state governments, the Medical Council of India and the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations to file their response and posted the matter for May 28.
The plea, filed by Kunhitharuvai Memorial Charitable Trust Medical College, sought that private self-financing institutions be enabled to access central counselling and fill up seats from an all-India pool of students from this academic year.
It also asked to strike down the Kerala government decision fixing a nativity criterion for admission in Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses, which it said is “discriminatory”.
The institution also said that due to the nativity criteria, it has to “fill its seats through state counselling and is unable to access central counselling which hinges on accessing and admitting an all-India pool of students”.
“This nativity criterion is violative of the Constitution’s Article 14 as it is manifestly arbitrary, unreasonable, irrational, discriminatory, and classifies unreasonably,” argued senior advocate Jayant Bhushan and advocate Y. Shiva Santosh, appearing for the medical college, which is an unaided minority institute.
“The reach of private unaided self-financing institutions some of which additionally enjoy the status of a minority institution under Article 30(1) of the Constitution suffers on account of being unable to take the option of centralised counselling and thereby admit students from an all-India pool, on account of the nativity criterion imposed by the state,” added the plea.
Kerala does not financially support the private self-financing institutions in any manner whatsoever and this sort of “nationalising” the seats by restricting the eligible candidates to a state quota and not allowing the colleges to access an all-India pool of students is “unreasonable state action”, it added.
It submitted that every private self-financing institution must have the right to choose its intake from an all-India pool of applications as they function from funds generated from fees alone and do not rely on state funding in any manner.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.