MD Ayurveda admissions: Students with BAMS from outside state move HC against quota disqualification

A few students have now challenged it in the Bombay High Court terming it as injustice toward them, especially considering that there are already only a few seats for the MD course.

A parent of an affected student who completed BAMS from Goa and is now seeking admission to MD in Ayurveda in Maharashtra, said, “There are only 1,121 seats for MD in Ayurveda in Maharashtra. Of these, 15 per cent is very less, for which students from across India will compete. This is unfair.”

According to parents, the objective of the state quota is to provide privileges to students from the home state so that they continue to serve here. “At present, students who have completed BAMS in Maharashtra are considered eligible for MD admissions under state quota. They are all not necessarily original Maharashtra residents. Such students will return to their home state after MD, diluting the very objective of providing seats under the state quota,” shared a parent.

Candidates have complained that it also dilutes merit. “With a varying number of seats, a candidate of lower merit is likely to get an MD seat under the state quota whereas the all-India quota, which has fewer seats, will fill fast with students of higher merit,” said a candidate.

According to details gathered by parents through Right To Information (RTI), over 840 seats were vacant in MD Ayurveda courses in the past five years cumulatively. These seats, according to parents, can be considered for admission to students having BAMS degree from outside Maharashtra.

Affected students and their parents have been knocking on all possible doors to bring change. The issue was also raised in the monsoon session of the Assembly that concluded recently. “However, after getting no positive response, we have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court,” said a parent.