Negative marking for SC/ST students: State to challenge HC order

The state government has decided to challenge a decision of the Allahabad High Court,which quashed a state government order that called for cancelling negative marking for SC/ ST candidates in the Uttar Pradesh Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (UPPGMEE) 2010. “We are filing an appeal in the Allahabad High Court against the May 20 judgement,” Principal Secretary (Medical Education) Arvind Singh Dev said on Monday.

The result of the entrance exam was declared on March 4,and counselling was to begin on April 11. On April 6,the government issued an order cancelling negative marking only for SC/ST candidates. During the counselling held on April 11,12 and 13,for the 90 seats for reserved category,around 40 students were admitted in the course after their marks,deducted in negative marking earlier,were restored.

On the petition of one Hemant Kumar Maurya and others,the single bench of the Justice Dilip Gupta set aside the government order and directed that counselling be held afresh. The reporting date for commencement of PG courses is May 31 and classes start on June 1.

“The classes will most probably start as per schedule and we will follow whatever decision the high court takes,” said V P Singh,Registrar,CSMMU.