V. B. R. MENON Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY (HEALTH), HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Both the writ petitions have been filed as Public Interest Litigation by an Advocate who appears in person.

(2.) We have elaborately heard Mr.V.B.R.Menon, Advocate, petitioner appearing in person; Mr.C.T.Ramesh, learned Additional Government Pleader (Pondicherry) for the Government of Pondicherry; Ms.P.J.Anitha, learned Central Government Standing Counsel for the Government of India and for Medical Counselling Committee (MCC); Mr.J.Jenasenan, learned counsel for the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC); Mr.V.P.Raman, learned counsel for the Medical Council of India (MCI); Mr.B.Rabu Manohar, learned counsel for the Union of India; Mr.P.R.Gopinathan and Ms.V.Sudha, learned counsels for the University Grants Commission (UGC); Mr.L.Swaminathan, learned counsel for Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Director General, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) ; Mr.P.Wilson, Senior Counsel for Mr.L.Swaminathan, learned counsel for Vinayaga Missions Medical College; Mr.Guru Krishnakumar, learned counsel for Mr.L.Swaminathan, learned counsel for Mahathma Gandhi Medical College; and Mr.V.Ramesh and Mr.K.Suresh, learned counsels for Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences.

(3.) In W.P.No.14232 of 2017, the petitioner seeks for a writ of declaration to declare that the fee payable for admission into Post Graduate Medical/Dental courses in Self-financing and Deemed Universities in Puducherry shall be as fixed/to be fixed by the Puducherry Fee Committee and consequently direct the respondents to fix the fee for the admission into the Post Graduate courses in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Initially there were five respondents in the writ petition. The first and the second respondent being the Secretary to Government of Puducherry, Health and Family Welfare Service Department and the Director, Health and Family Welfare Services. The third respondent, the Convenor of CENTAC; the fourth respondent; the Secretary to Lt.Governor of Puducherry; and the fifth respondent, the Secretary, MCI. The respondents 6 to 11 were suo motu impleaded by the Division Bench by order dated 09.06.2017. The sixth respondent being the Union of India, represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Human Resources; the seventh respondent, the UGC; and the respondents 8 to 11, the four Deemed to be Universities offering Medical and Dental courses in Puducherry. The Director General of Health Services, New Delhi was impleaded by order dated 26.04.2018. We will shortly refer to the various interim orders which were passed by the Hon'ble Division Benches in this writ petition from time to time in both the writ petitions.