MANVEEN DHILLON Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner Miss Manveen Dhillon secured 70 per cent marks in the Indian Schools Certificate Examination, which she passed in the year 1976 from the Sacred Heart Girls High School, Bangalore. She obtained 72 per cent marks in the Pre-Medical Examination, which she passed in the year 1979 from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. On the recommendation of the Medical Council of India, the State of Punjab decided to hold on behalf of the Medical Colleges in the State a common competitive entrance examination for admission to the Government Medical/Dental Colleges in the State of Punjab. The said examination was held on June 20, 1979. The petitioner secured 11th position in the competitive examination on the basis of merit. The relevant part of the decision of the State Government, as contained in the prospectus issued for and on behalf of the Government of Punjab (Department of Health and Family Welfare) and Government Medical/Dental Colleges in the Punjab State is reproduced as under:-

(2.) In pursuance to the decision as contained in para 1.3 the petitioner was entitled to be admitted to M. B. B. S. Course in view of high merit obtained by her in the competitive entrance examination, as the numbers of seats to be filled in were 360 whereas the petitioner secured 11th position in merit. However, she has been refused admission by the Principal, Government Medical College, Amritsar on the ground that she had failed to submit a detailed application on the prescribed form before July 16, 1979 to the Principal. It may be pointed out that the interview for the admission of the candidates who were entitled to be admitted on merit, was fixed for July 20, 1979 at Amritsar.

(3.) It has been averred in the petition, which is supported by affidavit of the father of the minor petitioner, that the petitioner sent duly filled in application form to the Principal, Government Medical College, Amritsar on July 12, 1979 under Postal Certificate from Amritsar. It has further been alleged in Para 9 of the petition that the petitioner was anxiously waiting for intimation regarding the date and place of admission, but as she did not receive any intimation till July 19, 1979 she along with her father contacted the Principal, Government Medical College, Amritsar on July 19, 1979 and requested her that she be allowed interview on July 20, 1979. The Principal told the petitioner that she having not submitted her application form till July 16, 1979 and the same having not been received, she could not be allowed to appear for interview on July 20, 1979. The petitioner and her father then contacted the Vice-Chancellor of the Guru Nanak Dev University, who directed the petitioner to approach the Pro-Vice-Chancellor. It has been further averred that the Pro-Vice-Chancellor tried to contact the Principal on telephone, but she was not available. The Pro- Vice-Chancellor then suggested to the father of the petitioner to proceed to Chandigarh and contact the Secretary to Government Punjab, Health Department. The petitioner's father immediately proceeded to Chandigarh and tried to contact the Secretary to Government, Punjab, Health Department, but he was not available. He then tried to contact the Director, Medical Education, Punjab, but he was unfortunately on tour. The petitioner then filed this writ petition in this Court. The Bench while issuing notice of motion in the petition directed that one Seat map be kept vacant for the petitioner and by another interim order dated 8th August, 1979, she was directed to be given admission provisionally In the college where the seat pas kept vacant for her. The petitioner thus stands admitted provisionally to the Medical College, Amritsar.