SOWMYANARAYANAN T V Vs. NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINATIONS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking a mandamus to the respondent to permit him to undertake a screening test which is being conducted by the respondent no. 1 i.e. National Board of Examinations pursuant to directions made by the Supreme Court in the judgment reported at (2002) 3 SCC 696 Medical Council of India Vs. Indian Doctors and Ors. The petitioner has contended that he was entitled to the benefit of the principles laid down in this judgment wherein the court had directed that such students who did not meet the minimum admission norms for joining undergraduate medical courses in India and were admitted to foreign medical institutes in the erstwhile USSR, were allowed to take screening tests provided that they had taken admission in such institutes prior to 15th March, 2002.

(2.) There is no dispute to the material facts giving rise to this petition and to the extent necessary, the same are considered hereafter.

(3.) The petitioner herein cleared his All India Senior Secondary School Examination in May, 1994 and had applied in Russia for undertaking the MD Physician course in a six year programme from September 1995 to 2001. The petitioner has submitted that the degree which was awarded by the Institute in Russia is considered equivalent to the MBBS course which is conducted in India. The petitioner has successfully completed the MD Physician course in June, 2001 from I.M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, Russia.